What were the crucial observations from Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s performance against the Washington Football Team?
It was the moment every Carolina Panthers fan had been waiting for.
Cam Newton was back under center and starting against the Washington Football Team and former head coach Ron Rivera. An unforgettable turn of events that have reignited the belief within everyone associated with the organization.
Newton stressed this was the moment for Carolina to reclaim Bank of America Stadium. While that might have been the case in the stands, it didn’t come with the storybook ending as the Panthers couldn’t do enough to secure a victory.
With this in mind, here are five crucial observations from Newton’s performance against Washington in Week 11.
Observation No. 1
Cam Newton created unprecedented energy
Not since the 2015 NFL Championship game had there been such an atmosphere within Bank of America Stadium. Cam Newton issued a rallying cry to fans this week and boy, did they respond.
The anticipation was palpable on social media and for those lucky enough to be tailgating before the game. Newton’s introduction in front of those that have adored him throughout his time in the league was nothing short of spine-tingling.
This sort of environment is something Newton’s always fed off. Hopefully, a trend that can continue long into the future and possibly beyond despite the result not going their way.
Cam Newton got off to the perfect start
If there were any nerves or adrenaline overload where Cam Newton was concerned, the quarterback did not show it on the first drive. This was the perfect opening to the game for the Carolina Panthers, who went down the field for a touchdown to send those in attendance into delirium.
There was a good mix of calls throughout the drive that ended when Newton faked to run before unleashing a bullet into the hands of D.J. Moore. Although the former No. 1 overall selection relied heavily on Christian McCaffrey, he came up with a couple of big plays to keep the chains moving.
Things couldn’t have gone much better right out of the gate. With all the excitement and anticipation beforehand, it was essential for Newton to get himself into a rhythm and set the tone under center.
Something he managed to accomplish in no uncertain terms.
Of course, there was a lot of football left to play. But this opening drive showed that Newton can focus on the task at hand after so much hype before the contest and Joe Brady can scheme things up well enough for his new quarterback despite having only a week within the system.
The next two drives in the first quarter weren’t as profitable. However, nobody expected it to be anything like perfect.
Cam Newton’s impressive first half
All things considered, it was an impressive first half from Cam Newton. The quarterback had the energy of a first-year pro and shook Bank of America Stadium to its foundations on occasions as the Carolina Panthers went into the break tied 14-14.
There were a couple of throws Newton would like to have back, obviously. But once again this had nothing to do with his arm strength, it was more of a timing issue.
Newton made some outstanding throws to the likes of D.J. Moore and Tommy Tremble, which will do wonders for the player’s in-game confidence after so long without a starting gig.
Overall, Newton’s first-half stats were pleasing.
- 9/11 completion (81.81%)
- 78 passing yards
- 1 touchdown
- 0 interceptions
- 0 sacks allowed
- 28 rushing yards
- 1 rushing TD
- 126.5 passer rating
For once, it was the defense giving up some critical players. Especially on third down which is very unlike Phil Snow’s unit this season.
Still, there was all to play for at the half. And as everyone probably predicted, a team coached by Ron Rivera wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Cam Newton couldn’t change 3rd quarter woes
As stated previously, this was an uncharacteristically bad afternoon for the Carolina Panthers’ defense. Phil Snow’s group has been among the NFL’s best in most statistical categories in 2021, but Taylor Heinicke had no trouble carving them up and the Washington running game was also able to generate significant yardage at will.
Carolina fell behind early in the third quarter, meaning Cam Newton was playing catchup with a basic package and that’s always a recipe for disaster against a strong defensive unit who’s been really impressive in coverage over the last few weeks.
This wasn’t an ideal situation. There was also absolutely no doubt Ron Rivera knew exactly who and where to target despite plenty of personnel changes to the roster he managed in Carolina.
The Auburn product wasn’t tasked with a great deal from a scheme standpoint and there were few opportunities for the signal-caller to get out on the move running the football. Something of a surprise considering his ability to shift the dynamic and how bad the team has been in the third quarter since the new regime took charge.
Rivera knows what he’s doing and knows more about Newton than most. Credit must also go to Heinicke, who set the tempo and dragged out drives masterfully throughout.
As for Newton, playing with a lead would have been more beneficial at this stage of his development. But it wasn’t to be throughout another disastrous third quarter from the franchise.
Cam Newton couldn’t overcome factors outside of his control
There’s only so much Cam Newton could do.
When he needed help from his teammates, it simply didn’t come more often than not.
Poor discipline, arguably the worst defensive performance of the season, and questionable situational football decisions eventually cost the Carolina Panthers and Newton’s fairytale return to Bank of America Stadium ended in a loss.
From an individual standpoint, there was far more good than bad where Newton’s production was concerned. But Washington’s ability to churn out the clock in a similar fashion to what they managed against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers meant opportunities were limited down the stretch.
Even when Newton and the Panthers were given a lifeline on their final drive of the game, they couldn’t get the job done. Perhaps a sack on the final play summed up just how bad the execution was in specific areas.
Newton finished the game with a 77.77 percent completion success rate for 189 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. He also managed 46 rushing yards and a score from 10 carries.
The quarterback should not shoulder much, if any, of the blame for this loss. Especially considering he’s still learning on the job regarding the system.
Simply put, Newton was let down by circumstances he couldn’t control and the Panthers now face a real fight to secure a surprise postseason spot.