Newton battling neck soreness after punishing hit on MNF

New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton woke up Tuesday with a sore neck after New York Jets safety Ashtyn Davis steamrolled him on Monday Night Football.

"My neck is only working on a degree angle that shuts off the degrees to one side," he said on WEEI. "My eye muscles are getting a lot of work in today."

Newton absorbed the hit in the second quarter, Davis was flagged for unnecessary roughness, and the 15-yard penalty helped the Patriots get a field goal later in the drive.

The veteran signal-caller blamed himself for the punishment, saying he held the football for too long.

"I told Josh (McDaniels) on the sideline like, 'Bro, that's my fault and I deserved it.' But, it got us 15 yards, so it's the price you have to pay," he said.

Newton didn't miss a snap and later rallied the Patriots from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to their first victory since Week 3. However, the 31-year-old appeared to take another hard hit while he plunged into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown late in the final frame.

The 3-5 Patriots will meet the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 10.

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