It was tough. It was physical. It was a battle.
It was everything it had been hyped up to be.
And in the end, Cam Newton outplayed Tom Brady when it mattered most. A year ago most people would have laughed at anyone who wrote that. No one outplays Tom Brady in the clutch. Definitely not Cam Newton. He's immature, he pouts, he whines. He will never outplay the legend, the golden boy, Tom Brady.
Then he did.
But there was a flag. And if you've watched any NFL game in the past, you're well versed on the way this thing works. Penalty flags are as imprecise as the men in stripes who throw them. Depending on who you ask, it was the right call and the wrong call and the last call for alcohol. My opinion? Not touching it. I just think that perhaps the football gods are showing the Panthers some love after years of watching Jake Delhomme's old ass drive the team into the ground and Jimmy Clausen's goofy ass keep it there.
The storyline of the night was unfortunately written in the final three seconds of the game. The headlines in the papers tomorrow will focus entirely too much on one play, when the real story was written by Cam Newton on the Panther's final drive of the game, and punctuated with Ted Ginn's touchdown catch.
You could almost feel it. We've all seen it before. Cam Newton does just enough to lose by a touchdown. And when Tom Brady took over with three timeouts and about a minute left, it was already being written again. But when that final pass was intercepted in the endzone, and Tom Brady didn't win, everything felt right. Cam Newton won a big game against a big team on a big stage, for the second week in a row no less. San Francisco was a big win, but we all know that beating the 49ers with another young quarterback pales in comparison to taking down Tom Brady. Tom Brady beats Peyton Manning on a regular basis, and I'll go on record saying that Manning is the greatest of all time, but even Brady manages to outduel him.
Tonight was the biggest win in Cam Newton's career, and I'll venture to say the biggest Panther's victory since they beat Donovan McNabb and the Eagles to get to the Super Bowl in 2003. It was a regular season game, I get it. But for a team that has mired in mediocrity for oh so long, this means a lot. More than can really be quantified in words I think.
The Monday Night Football stage lights shined bright tonight. But when time ran thin, the star that Cam Newton has become shined brighter than them all.
Showing posts with label Cam Newton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cam Newton. Show all posts
Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Panther Potential
The Panthers have all the potential in the world. A stable of 3 running backs that would start on damn near every team in the league. An all star wide receiver that is as explosive as any player in the league. An athletic big body tight end that presents a matchup nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs. A defense that has budding stars at the linebacker position and on the defensive line. And it's undeniable that Cam Newton is a star, and will only get better with every passing week. But potential has never won a Super Bowl.
Cam Newton fumbled a ball today on a run that would have all but sealed victory for the Panthers against a Falcons team that many would agree is one of the best in the NFL. Instead, the Falcons got the ball back (after a punt) and Matt Ryan shot a gaping hole in our very weak secondary with a bomb to Roddy White. The Falcons would eventually score the game-winning field goal and sink the Panthers to 1-3. They have damn near every piece of the puzzle now, it's just like they can't quite figure out how to put them together all at once. It's incredibly frustrating. They did it for the Saints game. They were a well-oiled machine that was pretty much unstoppable. Whenever they manage to put all of those pieces together for an extended period of time, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.
Cam Newton fumbled a ball today on a run that would have all but sealed victory for the Panthers against a Falcons team that many would agree is one of the best in the NFL. Instead, the Falcons got the ball back (after a punt) and Matt Ryan shot a gaping hole in our very weak secondary with a bomb to Roddy White. The Falcons would eventually score the game-winning field goal and sink the Panthers to 1-3. They have damn near every piece of the puzzle now, it's just like they can't quite figure out how to put them together all at once. It's incredibly frustrating. They did it for the Saints game. They were a well-oiled machine that was pretty much unstoppable. Whenever they manage to put all of those pieces together for an extended period of time, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later.
Monday, September 17, 2012
NFL Week 2: The Panthers and 5 things to know from around the league
Week two of this NFL season is (almost) in the books, and I have to say that I'm rather impressed with a lot of things. I also have to say that I'm pretty unimpressed by other things, and we'll get to those as well. From this point forward, I'd like to do game analyses for the Panthers while also commenting on five other things from around the league on a weekly basis. Without further ado, welcome to week two.
Let's begin with the Panthers, who have been both atrocious and outstanding so far this year. Week one couldn't have been more disappointing. Losing to the Buccaneers while amassing only 10 rushing yards was downright embarrassing. Granted, the Buccaneers have proven to be a good team, taking the Giants to the wire yesterday. But come on, 10 rushing yards for a team that has four very capable ball carriers? Pitiful.
But week two brought redemption for the Cardiac Cats. They beat the Saints 35-27 in a thrilling game where the Panthers steamrolled the defense for more than 200 rushing yards and Williams, Stewart, Tolbert AND Cam all scored TDs. It wasn't just the running game that thrived, as Cam had 253 yards through the air as well, including 104 to the always explosive Steve Smith. With such a perfectly balanced offense, the Panthers present an incredibly difficult matchup for any team. Another key stat, SuperCam had zero interceptions. Last year, the Panthers were undefeated when Cam didn't turn the ball over. I've said repeatedly that he doesn't have to make more hero highlight plays this year for the Panthers to go far, he just needs to make fewer bad decisions and the Panthers will be in the playoff hunt. The offense gets an A-
Despite giving up 27 points, the defense actually played pretty decent. Godfrey made a great play on the pick six (though it was mostly a gift from Brees) and our defense was able to put pressure on Brees for most of the game. The Saints may be without Head Coach Sean Payton, but that offense is damn dangerous, and being able to force Brees into two interceptions and holding him to only 63% completion percentage and one TD is still quite a feat. Bravo defense, B-
Let's begin with the Panthers, who have been both atrocious and outstanding so far this year. Week one couldn't have been more disappointing. Losing to the Buccaneers while amassing only 10 rushing yards was downright embarrassing. Granted, the Buccaneers have proven to be a good team, taking the Giants to the wire yesterday. But come on, 10 rushing yards for a team that has four very capable ball carriers? Pitiful.
But week two brought redemption for the Cardiac Cats. They beat the Saints 35-27 in a thrilling game where the Panthers steamrolled the defense for more than 200 rushing yards and Williams, Stewart, Tolbert AND Cam all scored TDs. It wasn't just the running game that thrived, as Cam had 253 yards through the air as well, including 104 to the always explosive Steve Smith. With such a perfectly balanced offense, the Panthers present an incredibly difficult matchup for any team. Another key stat, SuperCam had zero interceptions. Last year, the Panthers were undefeated when Cam didn't turn the ball over. I've said repeatedly that he doesn't have to make more hero highlight plays this year for the Panthers to go far, he just needs to make fewer bad decisions and the Panthers will be in the playoff hunt. The offense gets an A-
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| Cam Newton takes badass pictures |
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| "Hey! Don't let those guys hit me again!" |
5 Things around the league that caught my eye:
1. Rookie QBs: 5 rookie quarterbacks have been handed the starting position this year, a record, and it has everyone talking. In week one only RGIII was able to come up with a win, and they had more turnovers as a group than total TDs. That was a bit discouraging, but week two provided a different result. 10 total TDs to only one turnover and a combined 3-2 record. It's still way too early to speculate on how the rest of the season will play out, but this is a good sign that it won't be a complete disaster.
2. Has anybody seen Chris Johnson? Titans RB? Mr. 2,000 yard season a couple of years ago? He may as well be on the back of a milk carton, because he is completely absent from the football field. 19 carries for a whopping total of 21 yards. That's twenty-one. He has less yards than his starting QB Jake Locker. He also has less yards than Browns QB Brandon Weeden, Tim Tebow, and the 90-year-old lady in the retirement home down the road. Johnson is on pace to hit the 100 yard mark in week 10.
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| "Wait... So I'm supposed to carry the ball forward?" |
3. Replacement Referees suck. We want the real ones back. Pay up Goodell, seriously.
4. Eli Manning won yet another game in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. I never thought I would consider him elite, I was too big of a fan of Peyton to admit Eli was elite. But it's true. Eli Manning, despite missing a few chromosomes here and there, is an elite quarterback. Two impressive Super Bowl winning drives and a near 5,000 yard season last year prove it. His 510 yard performance in a win against the Bucs, which also included a game-winning drive, is just further proof. He is undoubtedly the best 4th quarter QB in the game right now.
5. Time for three disappointments. Joe Flacco looked more like Joe Flaccid yesterday when the game was on the line. He has to start winning games in crunch time if he wants people to call him elite. Gostkowski AKA Shankopotamus blew it for the Pats while Vinatieri is still kicking 50 yard game-winners in Indy like it's child's play. And finally the Eagles opponents, who forced them into 9 turnovers in the first two weeks and allowed them to escape with wins both times. I expect Cleveland to blow games like that, but the Ravens? Come on man.
Lastly I'd like to give a game from next week to look forward to. All of them. If football is on TV it's worth watching. So grab the remote, grab a beer, plop your lazy butt on the couch in front of the biggest TV in your house and enjoy!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Football is Back!
Friends hear the good news! The days of watching countless hours of mindless television are over. No longer will we be forced to watch golf on Sundays, praying for a magical shot from Tiger. Baseball will not grace my television anymore (especially since the Red Sox just shipped everybody on the roster out the door). Gone are the days of marathons on the Discovery channel watching sharks eat the shit out of little seals. In one week and two days, on Wednesday September 5th it will be official. Football is back.
And I don't mean this half-assed preseason nonsense, I'm talking about games that actually matter. Games that don't feature John Doe from the local bakery trying to get a roster spot. We're talking about the games with all of the overpaid players on our favorite teams who we love to worship, and all the players on the other teams who we love to hate.
The day has come when Peyton Manning is once again a starting quarterback, Rex Ryan has yet another cluster in New York, and Cam Newton takes the hopes and dreams of Panther nation on his back as he tries to deliver us to the promised land. Another season begins where 32 teams have a chance. Everyone is undefeated, and nobody has made a mistake. Except Ochocinco, he forgot that marriage is not a contact sport.
With the season starting, Tim Tebow will now return to the spotlight.. Oh wait that never ended. Well at least he's a starting quarterback now.. wait no he isn't. Hey at least he's not on the punt team.. Oh.. yeah actually he is. I thought I'd never see the day when I actually felt bad for Mark Sanchez, but I stand corrected.
The new era has been ushered in, both in Washington and Indianapolis. Andrew Luck has the shadow of Peyton Manning to get out of, while RGIII just has to overcome the shadow of the approximately 37 different starting quarterbacks that the Redskins have had since '05. Both will become either saviors or scapegoats in 16 games, and it will all happen before our very eyes.
An interesting headline on the field not involving world class athletes is the lockout of the refs. Yeah, remember those guys we HATE and spend every Sunday criticizing? While they may suck, their replacements suck even worse. And hey, at least the real guys know to spot the ball between the hash marks and can face the correct direction when making a call. So please, I'm begging you Ed Hochuli, bring your huge biceps and long winded explanations back. We miss you.
From the rookies to the refs, from the veterans to the over-the-hill stars who think they still have it (I'm talking to you T.O.), and from every highlight to every bonehead mistake, NFL fans we can rejoice in unison because football is back!
And I don't mean this half-assed preseason nonsense, I'm talking about games that actually matter. Games that don't feature John Doe from the local bakery trying to get a roster spot. We're talking about the games with all of the overpaid players on our favorite teams who we love to worship, and all the players on the other teams who we love to hate.
The day has come when Peyton Manning is once again a starting quarterback, Rex Ryan has yet another cluster in New York, and Cam Newton takes the hopes and dreams of Panther nation on his back as he tries to deliver us to the promised land. Another season begins where 32 teams have a chance. Everyone is undefeated, and nobody has made a mistake. Except Ochocinco, he forgot that marriage is not a contact sport.
With the season starting, Tim Tebow will now return to the spotlight.. Oh wait that never ended. Well at least he's a starting quarterback now.. wait no he isn't. Hey at least he's not on the punt team.. Oh.. yeah actually he is. I thought I'd never see the day when I actually felt bad for Mark Sanchez, but I stand corrected.
The new era has been ushered in, both in Washington and Indianapolis. Andrew Luck has the shadow of Peyton Manning to get out of, while RGIII just has to overcome the shadow of the approximately 37 different starting quarterbacks that the Redskins have had since '05. Both will become either saviors or scapegoats in 16 games, and it will all happen before our very eyes.
An interesting headline on the field not involving world class athletes is the lockout of the refs. Yeah, remember those guys we HATE and spend every Sunday criticizing? While they may suck, their replacements suck even worse. And hey, at least the real guys know to spot the ball between the hash marks and can face the correct direction when making a call. So please, I'm begging you Ed Hochuli, bring your huge biceps and long winded explanations back. We miss you.
From the rookies to the refs, from the veterans to the over-the-hill stars who think they still have it (I'm talking to you T.O.), and from every highlight to every bonehead mistake, NFL fans we can rejoice in unison because football is back!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Cam Newton
I don't think I'm alone when I say I was very wary about Cam Newton's potential as an NFL quarterback. His stats in college were phenominal, he led two straight teams to national championships (his junior college the year prior to his undefeated year at Auburn), he won the Heisman trophy and he just didn't lose games.
But there were his "character issues" that many were worried about. The incident at Florida where he was accused of stealing a laptop and the alleged "pay for play" scandal at Auburn are the two major issues that I recollect. Draft experts worried about his ability to adapt to a pro offense. He seemingly broke down when Jon Gruden analyzed him with all of the other top QB prospects and he couldn't call a typical NFL play. He was criticized for not being accurate enough, for running too much, and for just about anything else you could think of. To be honest, that level of criticism is well deserved if an organization is considering selecting you as the leader of their team and investing a very pretty penny in you. Jerry Richardson even famously asked Cam Newton if he had any tattoos. Cam's response was no, and Richardson told him he better keep it that way.
Through it all, the Panthers did indeed select Cam Newton with the number one overall selection in the draft, and by doing so effectively put the entire organization on his shoulders and prayed that he could remove us from the basement of the NFL. With only four games left in the season, the Panthers sit third in the NFC South with a 4-8 record.
But lets look back at the season so far. A seven point loss to the currently undefeated reigning Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, a five point loss to the 7-5 Chicago Bears, a three point loss to the 9-3 New Orleans Saints, and a late meltdown in a shootout loss to the 7-5 Detroit Lions. If luck happened to swing our way in a couple of those games our record wouldn't look so bad. And I'll be the first one to say I'd rather watch this Panthers team lose a game the way they play, than the abysmal team that sported Jimmy Clausen at quarterback.
Cam Newton threw for over 400 yards in his first two starts. He currently sits at 7th in the NFL with 3,297 passing yards. He's thrown 13 TDs, and he LEADS THE ENTIRE NFL with 13 rushing TDs. He broke the record for rushing TDs for a QB in a season on Sunday with four games still to play. AND he has Steve Smith looking like the incredible offensive weapon that he once was.
Yes, he has made a lot of mistakes. 14 interceptions is not great (he threw all 14 of those interceptions in losses this year), and he tends to be high on a lot of his throws. But guess what, Peyton Manning (yes the great Peyton Manning) threw a whopping 28 interceptions in his rookie year. Rookies make mistakes, Cam is no different. He will learn with experience just like anyone else.
Don't get me wrong, he's got a lot of room to grow. But his ceiling is very very high, and I am just warning the NFC South, and the rest of the NFL, that the Panthers are a team to watch out for in 2012. As far as Cam Newton is concerned, I'm definitely a believer, and I can't wait to see him reach his full potential.
But there were his "character issues" that many were worried about. The incident at Florida where he was accused of stealing a laptop and the alleged "pay for play" scandal at Auburn are the two major issues that I recollect. Draft experts worried about his ability to adapt to a pro offense. He seemingly broke down when Jon Gruden analyzed him with all of the other top QB prospects and he couldn't call a typical NFL play. He was criticized for not being accurate enough, for running too much, and for just about anything else you could think of. To be honest, that level of criticism is well deserved if an organization is considering selecting you as the leader of their team and investing a very pretty penny in you. Jerry Richardson even famously asked Cam Newton if he had any tattoos. Cam's response was no, and Richardson told him he better keep it that way.
Through it all, the Panthers did indeed select Cam Newton with the number one overall selection in the draft, and by doing so effectively put the entire organization on his shoulders and prayed that he could remove us from the basement of the NFL. With only four games left in the season, the Panthers sit third in the NFC South with a 4-8 record.
But lets look back at the season so far. A seven point loss to the currently undefeated reigning Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, a five point loss to the 7-5 Chicago Bears, a three point loss to the 9-3 New Orleans Saints, and a late meltdown in a shootout loss to the 7-5 Detroit Lions. If luck happened to swing our way in a couple of those games our record wouldn't look so bad. And I'll be the first one to say I'd rather watch this Panthers team lose a game the way they play, than the abysmal team that sported Jimmy Clausen at quarterback.
Cam Newton threw for over 400 yards in his first two starts. He currently sits at 7th in the NFL with 3,297 passing yards. He's thrown 13 TDs, and he LEADS THE ENTIRE NFL with 13 rushing TDs. He broke the record for rushing TDs for a QB in a season on Sunday with four games still to play. AND he has Steve Smith looking like the incredible offensive weapon that he once was.
Yes, he has made a lot of mistakes. 14 interceptions is not great (he threw all 14 of those interceptions in losses this year), and he tends to be high on a lot of his throws. But guess what, Peyton Manning (yes the great Peyton Manning) threw a whopping 28 interceptions in his rookie year. Rookies make mistakes, Cam is no different. He will learn with experience just like anyone else.
Don't get me wrong, he's got a lot of room to grow. But his ceiling is very very high, and I am just warning the NFC South, and the rest of the NFL, that the Panthers are a team to watch out for in 2012. As far as Cam Newton is concerned, I'm definitely a believer, and I can't wait to see him reach his full potential.
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