The criticism directed at Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton over his first four years usually centred on his decision making.
In his fifth season, the worst decision he has made may have been pulling away a pro-Green Bay Packers banner from a paying customer before last week’s game, and trashing it.
Panthers fans may have appreciated the gesture, but team officials quietly admonished Newton. It is their only complaint. Halfway through the season, the 2011 No 1 draft pick has led Carolina to an unexpected 8-0 record. The Panthers are the only unbeaten team left in the National Conference.
Eight victories also are more than they had all of last season, when their 7-8-1 record was good enough to win the NFC South. “It wasn’t a pretty eight, but it was eight and that’s gorgeous in itself,” Newton said last week after Carolina disposed of the Packers, previously regarded as the best team in the conference.
The Panthers concede “that there are a lot of people who are surprised”, as coach Ron Rivera put it. But Carolina’s rise is not a fluke.
Newton still throws too many interceptions (nine), and his completion rate (53.7 per cent) leaves him among the lowest-rated (27th) starting quarterbacks in the league. But his ability to make big plays with his arm and feet have transformed the Panthers into a dangerous offensive team.
Newton has completed 28 passes of more than 20 yards, which compares favourably to the 31 posted by the acknowledged elite players at his position, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Newton also leads all quarterbacks with 343 rushing yards, helping make Carolina the second-best rushing team in the NFL at 142 yards per game.
More importantly, he has made big plays at the right time. Perhaps the season’s signature event was a game-winning touchdown drive in the closing minutes in Seattle’s raucous stadium.
As Newton has grown, so have the Panthers.
“I think a lot of it has to do with his maturing right now,” Rivera said. “He’s been great. He’s been great on the practice field, in the locker room, meeting rooms.”
No one could be happier at Newton’s evolution than the Panthers defence, which has been waiting for the offence to catch up. If the offence looks for big plays mainly from Newton, the defence has multiple game-changers.
Linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly are often cited as the best pairing of sure-handed tacklers at the position in the league. This year, Josh Norman has emerged as a gold-standard cornerback, winning the NFC Defensive Player of the Month honour with four interceptions in September.
The Panthers are tied for the league lead with 13 interceptions, and are fourth with 25 sacks.
“We’ve done a good job in coverage,” Kuechly said. “With that comes the ability to pressure the quarterback.”
Not everyone is convinced the Panthers are an elite team, mainly because they have played a relatively weak schedule and are winning games by a margin of less than eight points per game. But doubters do not concern safety Roman Harper: “In this locker room, we think we are the best team whenever we line up.”
They also can check the standings. At the halfway point, they have eight good reasons to believe.
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