Newton on loss: ‘All fingers can level again to me’

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton stated his surgically repaired shoulder and lately injured foot have been to not blame for his poor efficiency Thursday evening, however he did take the blame for his crew’s 20-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“By my lens, it is onerous to look defensive guys within the eyes after a recreation like this,” stated Newton, who accomplished 25 of 51 move makes an attempt for 333 yards and no touchdowns because the Panthers fell to Zero-2 for the primary time since 2013. “Offensively, we did not maintain up our finish of the discount.

“All fingers are simply pointing again to me particularly on offense.”

Newton had 15 off-target throws — 10 that have been overthrown, 5 underthrown — essentially the most since Chicago’s Mitchell Trubisky in Week 7 final season and the second most in a recreation for the 2015 NFL MVP’s profession, based on ESPN Stats & Data analysis.

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In two video games, Newton has accomplished solely 61% of his passes to receivers with Three-plus yards of separation, the second-worst share within the NFL and down from his 86% final season.

Newton particularly in opposition to the Bucs was unhealthy with stress. He was Zero-for-10 when underneath duress, with three sacks. That was essentially the most such passes he has had in his profession with out a completion.

“I’ve to be higher,” Newton stated. “It doesn’t matter what bodily situation I am in. It doesn’t matter what foot, shoulder … I did not get the job finished, and it is irritating. I want I might say one thing apart from that, however that is the very fact. I am a brutally trustworthy particular person with folks, and I am a brutally trustworthy particular person with myself. And it is time for me to look myself within the mirror and do some actual soul looking out, as a result of I had alternatives tonight, and I did not get it finished.”

Newton in January underwent shoulder surgical procedure for the second time in three offseasons. He did not throw most of this offseason, however he wasn’t restricted in coaching camp apart from deliberate break day.

Nonetheless, Newton’s arm energy got here underneath scrutiny after the opener, a 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, as a result of Newton had just one move try longer than 20 yards and did not have a completion longer than 17.

He vowed earlier within the week that the deep ball remained part of his arsenal, and he seemingly proved it early Thursday evening, finishing a 44-yard move to Curtis Samuel that traveled 38 yards within the air.

That was Newton’s longest completion by yards within the air for the reason that final recreation of the 2017 season, based on ESPN Stats & Data. analysis.

However on throws of 15 yards down area this season, Newton is Four-for-15 (27%) with no touchdowns. He has 5 interceptions on these balls in his previous eight begins, all of which have been losses — six straight losses earlier than being shut down the ultimate two video games final season and two straight losses to open this season.

“We’re making one thing that appears to be easy tougher than it’s,” Newton stated. “I do not know what it’s. I have not tasted a win in so lengthy, and I am not going to make it private about me.

“It is time for us to simply accept duty, which I’m, and transfer ahead.”

It isn’t simply his throwing that has been a difficulty. Newton, who has extra dashing yards than any quarterback within the league since he was drafted No. 1 in 2011, hasn’t been a risk out of the read-option that he has run most of his profession.

In two video games, he has 5 carries for minus-2 yards. He had two carries for no yards in opposition to Tampa Bay.

On two fourth-and-1 performs on which Newton was once near automated with the quarterback sneak, he threw an incompletion and was a decoy for working again Christian McCaffrey within the Wildcat formation with the sport on the road on the Tampa Bay 2 with 1:21 left.

With Newton not a risk to run, the Bucs stacked the entrance to cease McCaffrey, who was restricted to 53 complete yards after having 209 within the opener.

“I do not know,” Newton stated when requested why his quantity will not be being known as in these conditions. “I am unable to reply that query.”

Newton did not blame offensive coordinator Norv Turner for the playcalling, insisting it is as much as him to execute no matter is named.

“I say it on a regular basis,” Newton stated. “Typically you end up in a blender, and the one particular person that may get your self out is your self.”