BY Cory Spiers
coryspiers@gmail.com
Well, that felt familiar.
Carolina's thrilling 33-30 road win over the Patriots this past Sunday did more than just push the team's record to 3-1 after a flat home performance against the Saints in Week 3, it gave the team its mojo back.
At least for one week.
The win in Foxborough felt like it was ripped straight out of the 15-1 2015 season-- bonus content on the DVD that was never released to the public until now.
For the first time in a very long time, Cam Newton played like the 2015 league MVP, rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 316 yards and three more scores.
Much like in 2015, it was receiver by committee in the win-- six different Panthers recorded a reception and five of those players caught three or more passes.
The 2015 Panthers won three games by three points.
Make no mistake, an efficient and confident Newton was the difference in this game.
For the first time this season, Newton had a full week of throwing in practice prior to the Patriots game.
What a difference that makes.
I also believe offensive coordinator Mike Shula's commitment to getting Newton going on the ground was a key part of Newton looking very good again.
I've been highly critical of Shula this season, but to his credit, he called a great game against the league's worst defense.
When Newton runs successfully, it gives the team an edge-- the same edge and swagger they carried through most of 2015.
When Newton gets confident and energized with runs, he throws better. And when he throws better, the team scores more.
When the team scores more, they're confident and loose.
Look, football doesn't have to be complicated.
I thought another underrated performance was authored by wide receiver Devin Funchess, who I'd personally give the game ball to over Newton.
Funchess is one of those enigmas where no one is positive what his ceiling is.
Funchess showed against the Patriots what he is capable of doing when he's at his best. He caught a team-high seven passes for 70 yards and two scores.
Aside from putting together the first multi-touchdown game of his young career, Funchess made what was perhaps the biggest and gutsiest play by any Panther on the final drive.
Funchess left the field with lower body cramps on the final drive and sprinted back on for the next play in which he caught a pass on a third and medium with the Panthers just out of field goal range.
Funchess powered through the pain, caught the short pass and drove his big body forward to move the chains-- a very important moment in setting up Graham Gano for the game-winning 48-yard field goal.
Troy Aikman said on the broadcast Funchess was probably rushed back in because the team trusted him the most to run the particular called route and get the first down.
I think he's right and that speaks volumes about how far the Michigan product has come.
Funchess will need to continue to play like this in Greg Olsen's absence.
Coaches tend to like to break the season into four quarters-- go 3-1 in every quarter and you'll finish 12-4, which equals a division crown on most years in most divisions.
Through the first quarter, I'll certainly take 3-1.
In fact, I'll put it this way. If you told me prior to the start of the season that the Panthers would be 3-1 at the first quarter mark despite Newton throwing five interceptions, the team being without Olsen since early in Week 2 and the offense scoring just one touchdown in Weeks 2 and 3 combined, I'd say you were crazy.
Then again, I never thought the Panthers would look exactly like they did in 2015 ever again and then this past Sunday happened.
coryspiers@gmail.com
Well, that felt familiar.
Carolina's thrilling 33-30 road win over the Patriots this past Sunday did more than just push the team's record to 3-1 after a flat home performance against the Saints in Week 3, it gave the team its mojo back.
At least for one week.
The win in Foxborough felt like it was ripped straight out of the 15-1 2015 season-- bonus content on the DVD that was never released to the public until now.
For the first time in a very long time, Cam Newton played like the 2015 league MVP, rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown and throwing for 316 yards and three more scores.
Much like in 2015, it was receiver by committee in the win-- six different Panthers recorded a reception and five of those players caught three or more passes.
The 2015 Panthers won three games by three points.
Make no mistake, an efficient and confident Newton was the difference in this game.
For the first time this season, Newton had a full week of throwing in practice prior to the Patriots game.
What a difference that makes.
I also believe offensive coordinator Mike Shula's commitment to getting Newton going on the ground was a key part of Newton looking very good again.
I've been highly critical of Shula this season, but to his credit, he called a great game against the league's worst defense.
When Newton runs successfully, it gives the team an edge-- the same edge and swagger they carried through most of 2015.
When Newton gets confident and energized with runs, he throws better. And when he throws better, the team scores more.
When the team scores more, they're confident and loose.
Look, football doesn't have to be complicated.
I thought another underrated performance was authored by wide receiver Devin Funchess, who I'd personally give the game ball to over Newton.
Funchess is one of those enigmas where no one is positive what his ceiling is.
Funchess showed against the Patriots what he is capable of doing when he's at his best. He caught a team-high seven passes for 70 yards and two scores.
Aside from putting together the first multi-touchdown game of his young career, Funchess made what was perhaps the biggest and gutsiest play by any Panther on the final drive.
Funchess left the field with lower body cramps on the final drive and sprinted back on for the next play in which he caught a pass on a third and medium with the Panthers just out of field goal range.
Funchess powered through the pain, caught the short pass and drove his big body forward to move the chains-- a very important moment in setting up Graham Gano for the game-winning 48-yard field goal.
Troy Aikman said on the broadcast Funchess was probably rushed back in because the team trusted him the most to run the particular called route and get the first down.
I think he's right and that speaks volumes about how far the Michigan product has come.
Funchess will need to continue to play like this in Greg Olsen's absence.
Coaches tend to like to break the season into four quarters-- go 3-1 in every quarter and you'll finish 12-4, which equals a division crown on most years in most divisions.
Through the first quarter, I'll certainly take 3-1.
In fact, I'll put it this way. If you told me prior to the start of the season that the Panthers would be 3-1 at the first quarter mark despite Newton throwing five interceptions, the team being without Olsen since early in Week 2 and the offense scoring just one touchdown in Weeks 2 and 3 combined, I'd say you were crazy.
Then again, I never thought the Panthers would look exactly like they did in 2015 ever again and then this past Sunday happened.
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