If the Carolina Panthers got a great performance from Cam Newton in his first start and a not-so-great performance from Cam Newton in his second start, then his third was probably somewhere right in the middle.
The 11th-year quarterback’s Week 14 performance, where he passed for 178 yards and rushed for 47 more, was dragged down by a pair of costly turnovers. One came on a pick-six to Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mykal Walker and the other, well, seems to be up for debate.
Down 20-14 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, center Pat Elflein stepped back onto Newton’s foot off a snap. The miscue forced a trip of Newton, who then tried to salvage the play on a botched handoff attempt to running back Chuba Hubbard.
Matt Rhule said Newton should’ve jumped on the football, instead of trying to make a play.
Here’s the play again. Trying to find what Cam could’ve done after the fumble
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 12, 2021
So, although it’s really a moot point to argue, who’s fault was it? Newton, as he always has, took up the blame.
“I got stepped on, I just tried to hand it off, shouldn’t have did it, should have just ate it,” he said following the 29-21 loss. Once again, it just comes down to protecting the football. That’s day one, just winning football in rec ball, high school, college and professionals, protect the football and I didn’t do a good job of that today. I think that’s what so frustrating because I hold myself to a high standard to do those things. When it doesn’t happen, it’s just inexcusable.”
Newton added that he thought about actually eating the loss, but wanted to keep the ball going on the 2nd & 3 try.
“Yeah, I just thought, it was second and short and I just feel somebody kind of tugging on my foot and I just wanted to keep the ball going forward,” he said. “I knew we didn’t, I didn’t want to take no loss right there, but in hindsight, yeah, I would have just did what I should have did and you know it is what it is. But those, without a doubt, you take those turnovers away, I think it would be a different type of tempo right here, right now. I’m just, yeah, I made my point.”
Per usual, Newton will take the brunt of the backlash for his offensive line’s shortcomings. But, hey, at least he’s used to it.
