Cam Newton, Quarterback
The quarterback often takes the blame when his team loses, but any blame placed on Cam Newton after Sunday’s game is clearly unwarranted. He completed 32 of 45 passes for 335 yards and three TDs, with his only interception coming on a ball that should have been caught by running back C.J. Anderson in the fourth quarter.
Speaking of balls that should have been caught, the Panthers had five or six drops against the Falcons. Devin Funchess, in particular, dropped multiple passes, which you can’t have from your No. 1 wide receiver.
Add five or six more completions to Newton’s stat line and we might be talking about a Carolina win right now. Instead, we’re discussing a loss that very well could have been a victory if not for key drops by receivers.
Newton did his job on Sunday and was a major reason why the Panthers still had a chance right down to the final play. But he needs more help from his teammates if Carolina is going to knock off top-tier teams like the Falcons.
