Cam Newton is officially back. His declaration came true, as he’s on track to make his first start for the Carolina Panthers since Sept. 12, 2019.
Newton stepped in on short notice and led the Panthers to a statement victory in a must-win scenario. Now he wants to erase fans’ losing memories and return Carolina to glory. His latest move should have the Panthers faithful excited for a playoff push.
Cam Newton is giving away 50 tickets to Panthers fans
The Panthers shocked the sports world when they brought Cam Newton back to Carolina. After a heroic performance against the Arizona Cardinals, Newton is now the starter.
Newton wants to get the fan base excited again after getting the team to a 5-5 record.
During a recent press conference, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback announced he would be giving away 50 tickets to the Week 11 home game against the Washington Football Team.
Newton’s goal is to get fans involved who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend Panthers games.
“This Sunday is important for us,” said Newton. “We need to reclaim Bank of America Stadium. I know the success hasn’t been there, but we ain’t talking about the past. We’re talking about the things here moving forward.”
The veteran quarterback wants Bank of America Stadium to once again become a home-field advantage in Carolina.
“I said there’s no other place in football that I would rather be on Sunday than Bank of America Stadium because it will be a playoff atmosphere for more ways than one,” he added. “Let’s get back to getting that edge and bringing the pride back to Carolina, how I once knew it to be.”
The veteran QB’s return gave Carolina a spark
“We back” – Cam Newton – Steve Smith Sr.
@Panthers | @CutToIt pic.twitter.com/omxBa2tlgf
— NFL GameDay (@NFLGameDay) November 18, 2021
When the New England Patriots released Cam Newton before the start of the 2021 regular season, it almost seemed like the beginning of the end for his NFL career.
However, the Carolina Panthers gave him new life. “I was eating cereal last week,” Newton told reporters after the win over Arizona. Now he’s played his way into a starting job again.
The 32-year-old saw limited action against the Cardinals, but he made the most of his opportunities. Newton rushed for 14 yards and one touchdown. He also connected with Robby Anderson for a touchdown pass.
After Newton barreled into the end zone for his rushing touchdown, he took his helmet off. “I’m back,” he exclaimed. Even though it was only the first quarter, the light switch flipped for the Panthers.
Carolina had lost five of its last six games after starting 2021 with a 3-0 record. The team looked rejuvenated by Cam Newton’s return.
With the win, the Panthers are back in the thick of the playoff hunt. If the season ended today, Carolina would be the No. 7 seed in the NFC.
This team could be scary down the stretch if the momentum continues.
Newton is an obvious upgrade over Sam Darnold
The Carolina Panthers acquired Sam Darnold from the New York Jets after the 2020 season. The move seemed beneficial for both sides. Darnold got a fresh start after a failed experiment with the Jets. The Panthers got to try out their quarterback of the future.
Darnold and the Panthers looked like the perfect match through the first three weeks of the season. The former No. 3 overall pick threw for 888 yards and three touchdowns while completing 68.2% of his passes. He also added five rushing touchdowns from Weeks 1 through 4.
Things went downhill for Darnold after that, though. His completion percentage plummeted (59.5%), stalling the Panthers’ offense.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s entire unit should benefit from Cam Newton’s arrival. Even though he’s no longer MVP “Superman”, he’s proving he can still be successful in the right system.
Newton’s rushing prowess alone puts him over Darnold despite the latter’s early knack for finding the end zone. Carolina also has its full complement of weapons.
Robby Anderson, D.J. Moore, and Christian McCaffrey should benefit from Newton’s presence under center.
The Panthers just have to hope this isn’t fool’s gold like Sam Darnold.
All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference
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