Carolina Panthers: 4 TDs by Cam Newton, good defense beat Cincinnati

CAR vs. CIN – Offensive Line

Those guys, THEY KNOW how getting it together works.  Starting with post-draft OTAs, through the cauldron that was  Spartanburg in August and opening game, they’ve put it on the line. In a very real way, McCaffrey inspires, because every lineman EVER gets a “worth it” feeling when they hold a block and your guy gets a run like the 45-yards from McCaffrey. BAM! After your guy hangs a fairly dominant performance on whats supposed to be a tough defense and you watch that film- seeing just how amazing his vision is, watching McCaffrey maneuver and then break out- I guarantee that fires a lineman up.

Take the fact of Anderson being a MILE clear with *three* linemen out there escorting him. It comes with a wow! because seeing *the whole Bengals defense* turn fully toward the fake right with McCaffrey– they must have been laughing in the beards coming back to the left and looking to hit somebody–and nearly took the breath out the Bank of America crowd, it was so CLEAR.

Newton– only 15 of 24 for 150 yards and two passing touchdowns. Getting a nod of appreciation after a four total touchdown day should kind of be required…After that long option roll before keeping it with McCaffrey and with Van Roten in front of him- did any guys in the Bengals secondary want to meet Newton at the goal line? Didn’t think so. That one strip-sack by Carlos Dunlap could’ve been crucial, but unbelievably he got on it! Newton said post-game (that) he got a rap for not jumping (in Super Bowl), so he wasn’t holding back there. Again, that’s the sort of physical toughness that makes a difference in leaders, like the foul to his helmet against Atlanta last week.