Cam Newton

Stop Listening to the “Talking Heads” About Cam’s Future

Prime Cuts with Norris


Ever since week two, the talking heads in the media have written him out of Carolina. On September 15th, Michael Vick gave his bold prediction on Fox NFL Sunday that Cam wouldn’t be with the Panthers in 2020. It hasn’t stopped since that day. Analysts will tell their audience that Cam is washed up in one breath, and in the next they’ll talk about how he can transform another team into a Super Bowl contender.

The most recent story is from Ian Rapoport, who said the Panthers are open to trading Cam, and they’re holding out for a big deal. Let’s not forget that Rapoport is the same guy who said “Antonio Brown to the Buffalo Bills is a done deal” and then Brown was traded to the Raiders. Rapoport has been wrong so many times and is really good at covering all bases. After all, the best media members are able to create storylines (to engage readers) and then cover themselves with all angles, so that they are able to maintain credibility.

Cam is one of the most polarizing individuals in the NFL and he’s a great talking point to get clicks and views. That’s the reason every analyst can’t keep his name out of their mouth. The only thing to be sure of when talking about the future of Cam in Carolina, is no one is sure about anything. There have been no decisions made. Nothing is set in stone.

Cam is set to have surgery this week on his foot to repair the lisfranc injury that put him out for the season. The very decision about Cam’s future, hinges on how healthy he can get. Let’s be clear…..Carolina wants to keep Cam. David Tepper and Marty Hurney know that it’s hard to find franchise quarterbacks. However, there are many variables that will go into their decision, but it’ll be a few months until anything can play out. So, trading him and keeping him are both on the table at this point.

Let’s try to make sense of things from a logical standpoint, shall we? First and foremost, if a team wants mega compensation for a player, it usually means the team doesn’t want to get rid of the player at all. They’re just covering all the bases. Another thing is, releasing Cam makes no sense because you get nothing for your franchise quarterback. You won’t be able to sign any player or players with his $18 million salary that will have the same impact on a game as Cam. Nor will you have any draft picks in exchange for Cam to select a new quarterback.

If Cam can’t get back to 100%, then the team would likely put him on the trading block, which would make the most sense if they’re trying to move on. However, a team isn’t going to give them a “big deal” if he’s at 80%. With surgery looming and no guarantees about his health at this point, it really makes no sense to do anything but keep him. A healthy Cam is the best option at quarterback at this point. Especially when you consider that his salary is low compared to half of the NFL quarterbacks’ salaries.

Other variables will also go into the Panthers’ decision about Cam’s future. For instance, does Cam even want to play here on a one year salary? That’s a huge risk for a player of Cam’s caliber. Newton’s agent may want to try to get an extension before he takes the field. No one knows. Another variable would be, what if Carolina continues losing and ends up with the chance to get their next franchise quarterback? Would they let Cam play out his contract and let the rookie sit?

The talking heads also fail to realize that the team doesn’t even have a head coach or really even a general manager. David Tepper fired Ron Rivera and is keeping Marty Hurney with a more limited role, as he will be the college talent evaluator and scouting consultant. Without a head coach or general manager, there’s no possible way to figure out what the future of Cam Newton looks like. It’s all talking points and speculation. If I’m a potential head coach, a healthy MVP quarterback is a huge selling point.

In my personal opinion, if Cam gets healthy, you have to keep him. You’re not going to find anyone as impactful as Cam with his salary. The team isn’t going to get that back breaking deal that they want. They likely won’t get anything higher than a third round pick, which is the same round comp pick they’d get if they kept Cam and let him go after next season. A healthy Cam is still really good, as fans saw in the first eight games of last year, when he was putting up better numbers than he was in 2015. The team is set to have quite a bit of salary cap this offseason, and there will be a lot of moves to create more cap room. So the team doesn’t necessarily need Cam’s cap savings. But no one knows what’s going to happen yet.

Bottom line is, stop listening to the media. They are there to make stories about things that aren’t really stories at all. Their job is to get as many clicks as possible, and right now, Cam is their main source of income. Currently, Cam Newton is a Carolina Panther. The best course of action for the fans is to let things play out. The Panthers are rebuilding, but that doesn’t mean it’s an overhaul. If Cam is healthy, it makes perfect sense to keep him around next year. If that’s the road they go, drafting a franchise left tackle in the first round is something they need to look into. Nobody can play quarterback for the Panthers behind that line, and Kyle Allen isn’t the answer. Now, can we let Cam heal up and give him the respect that he’s earned?

Is Cam Done in Carolina?

Prime Cuts with Norris

Is Cam Newton done in Carolina? This is a topic that has been discussed at nauseam for the past two months. When Cam was placed on injured reserve, it seemed to cause a media frenzy. Everyone with a computer seemed to type up an article about how Cam has played his last game as a Panther.

Truth is, how would anyone know? The Carolina front office doesn’t even know what will happen. Mainly because it is hinged on whether or not Newton can come back 100% healthy. A healthy Cam Newton is still dynamic in the Carolina offense, based on his stats prior to his injury last season.

Even Ian Rapoport has discussed, at length, the future of Cam Newton. He’s said on numerous occasions that Cam is likely done in Carolina and that he would be open to a trade. Ian Rapoport has been wrong before. Most recently, Rapoport said that Antonio Brown to the Bills was a done deal. He, and Adam Schefter, have both been wrong several times before. They’re in the media. It’s their job to take a lead and run with it. Sometimes they make stories even if the sources aren’t reliable. Bottom line is, they’re not always right, and things happen. Situations change. Cam could’ve been asked if he would be open to a trade if Carolina didn’t want him anymore. Of course he’s going to say yes. It’s all about context, and we don’t know exactly what was said.

Marty Hurney, Ron Rivera and David Tepper have a lot to think about after this season. Luckily for them, the Panthers’ fan base isn’t involved in the decision making. Cam’s injury has some fans bashing him to no end. Some fans act as if they really can’t tell the difference between a diminishing player and an injured player. Some people act as if Cam has been bad his entire career. They act as if Cam has had an elite offensive line and tons of weapons at his disposal, but still failed the team.

Does it make sense to trade Cam Newton? Yes, it makes some sense. Does it make sense to keep him around? Absolutely. There’s an argument for both sides. On one hand, Cam is owed a lot of money and has been hurt for the past year and a half. Kyle Allen is 5-2 as a starter and seems to be getting better each week. The Panthers have a lot of players in the last year of their contracts and need to free some money to sign them.

On the other hand, it’s hard to find a franchise quarterback in the NFL. $19 million is low for a franchise quarterback, especially a former MVP. Kyle Allen, while he is winning games, is near the bottom in every meaningful stat for a quarterback. He’s far too young to tell whether or not he’s the heir apparent to Cam, but it doesn’t look like it right now. If Carolina traded Cam, would they get what a healthy Cam Newton is worth? What players could Carolina sign with the $19 million that would be as impactful as a healthy Cam? Carolina is slated to have around $43 million in cap space this offseason, which includes the rollover from this season. That’s enough to sign all of it’s core players with money left over. They really don’t need the salary from Cam’s contract.

Again, both sides have legitimate arguments. In my personal opinion, it makes zero sense to get rid of Newton. Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. The media have written Cam out of Carolina because he’s “done” but then in the same breath, they’ll say why he would take the Bears to another level. It makes no sense. Cam Newton has put his body on the line each and every week for the team and fans. We owe him a chance to come back and show that he still has what it takes to lead this team. Cam has saved Rivera’s job so many times, and Rivera hasn’t forgotten.

Even owner, David Tepper, made a comment in January, “If you told me that he took a year off and could recover… and it took an extra year, why wouldn’t you do that?” Tepper knows that Newton is a once in a generation talent and he’s a force when healthy. Tepper is a smart business man, and I think he can see how a dip in attendance is synonymous with a Cam-less team. I think Cam will take the rest of the year off to heal, and come back stronger and healthier than he’s been in three years. I think he will bet on himself and play out that last year of his contract so that he can get signed to another deal. Whether it be here or elsewhere. You can say a lot of things about Cam, but you can’t say he is a quitter. You can’t say that he isn’t competitive. He will not give up. So I think he will be back next year as a Panther. That’s my opinion with zero inside influence.


Bottom line is, no one knows what will happen. Cam might not ever be healthy again. This is something that fans need to think about. Prepare yourselves for the worst, but hope for the best. No one knows what will happen with Cam Newton yet, so let’s stop writing him off. As of now, he’s under contract. He’s a Panther. If he doesn’t come back, it’ll be hard for most fans, but we need to rally around Allen (or whoever Carolina might bring in) and support the team. It’ll probably be a mistake for the Panthers to get rid of Newton, but we will have to accept it. If he does come back, fans need to thank Allen for all his help and support Cam. We are Panthers’ fans until death. Let’s act like it. Cam isn’t done yet. Neither is Allen. Let’s stop worrying about things that we can’t control, and support the team, as well as, both quarterbacks. Get well soon, Cam. Let’s get some more wins, Kyle. Keep pounding, fellas. 

Spoiler Alert: Kyle Allen is Not Cam Newton…

Prime Cuts with Norris


When Cam Newton went down with a foot injury in week 2, it seemed as though the Panthers were destined to be one of the league’s worst. In came Kyle Allen, who led the team to a 5-4 record, with a lot of help from Christian McCaffrey and the defense. While it has been fun winning, it also brought the Carolina fan base a new problem. It seemed like everyone wanted to have a Kyle versus Cam debate. Even analysts in sports media started comparing the two.

Spoiler alert: Kyle Allen is not Cam Newton….and that’s ok. There’s nothing wrong with that. Cam has been the Panthers’ franchise quarterback for nine years, so it’s easy to compare Allen to him. Which is unfair to not only Allen, but also Newton.

Allen has done well, all things considered. He’s certainly made the best of his opportunity, and seems to be improving each week. No, he isn’t perfect. Yes, he makes mistakes. The one thing you have to realize is, he’s basically a rookie. Not to mention, he’s trying to fill the shoes of the best quarterback in franchise history.

Comparing him to Cam is unfair, as they have a completely different skill set and they’re at different points in their respective careers. Allen is young and learning how to be a professional starter. He was an undrafted free agent who found a team to help mold him. He’s growing into his role and learning how to be a leader. He’s not doing the things that Cam does, but he’s doing what is asked.

Cam is a 30 year old former MVP, who is still a dynamic player when healthy. He was the number one pick in 2011 and burst onto the scene, breaking record after record. He’s led the Panthers to multiple division championships, as well as, a Super Bowl. Injuries have slowed him down the last two seasons. These things happen in the NFL. It doesn’t mean he’s injury prone. Thomas Davis tore his ACL three times, and he turned into one of the best linebackers that the Panthers ever had.

Allen and Newton are polar opposites, and they shouldn’t be compared. They both have their strengths, as well as their deficiencies. Cam is physically a freak of nature, Allen is a prototypical quarterback. Allen is more of a pocket passer, Cam can beat you with his legs and his arm. Allen has more touch on the intermediate throws, Cam has a rocket for an arm and rifles it to the receiver before the defense knows what hit them. Cam is more accurate on deep balls, Allen has better anticipation on intermediate routes. Allen isn’t going to kill anyone with his legs. He needs to improve a lot of his game. But he’s young. He will get there. It’s ok that they’re different. Allen is learning relatively quickly.

Cam could come back healthy and play again for the Panthers next season. However, we don’t need to worry about that. As a fan base, it’s important to enjoy the ride. We are, after all, Panthers fans. No matter your thoughts on who deserves to be the quarterback next year, let’s support the guy we have at the helm right now. What choice do any of us really have? So no, Kyle Allen is Cam Newton….but he’s making a name for himself. Let’s celebrate them both.

A Look Ahead: Bucs

Game Breakdowns, Prime Cuts with Norris

Panthers

VS

Bucs

Game time: 8:20
Game time temperature: 84

Week one didn’t go as planned, but that’s in the past. Some fans have their hands poised on the panic button, but please relax. It’s week two and Carolina has a fairly favorable schedule for the next two weeks, as they play Tampa Bay in week two and Arizona in week three. Here’s a look ahead to the Buccaneers:

Tampa Bay Bucs

Head Coach

Bruce Arians

Offensive Coordinator 

Byron Leftwich

Defensive Coordinator 

Todd Bowles

Key Acquisitions 

DT Ndamukong Suh

LB Shaq Barrett

S Darian Stewart

Key Losses

WR Desean Jackson

DT Gerald McCoy

DE Vinny Curry

Key Draft Picks

LB Devin White

The Bucs didn’t have a whole lot of major turnaround this offseason, which is surprising considering they went 5-11 in 2018. On offense, they traded their deep threat, Desean Jackson, so they aren’t as explosive. The Bucs defense was near the bottom of the league last year in every category, and seems to have only gotten worse. Jameis Winston threw three interceptions in week one, and also fumbled twice. He looks to improve his play in week two against Carolina. Bucs’ running back Ronald Jones finally looked like the player they thought he’d be, as he gained 75 yards on 13 carries (5.8 AVG YPC).

Carolina Panthers

Head Coach

Ron Rivera

Offensive Coordinator

Norv Turner

Defensive Coordinator

Eric Washington

Key Acquisitions

C Matt Paradis

LB Bruce Irvin

CB Javien Elliott

WR Chris Hogan

DT Gerald McCoy

S Tre Boston

Key Losses

LB Thomas Davis

C Ryan Kalil

DE Julius Peppers

Key Draft Picks

DE Brian Burns

OT Greg Little

RB Jordan Scarlett

Although Carolina didn’t start fast and win week one, there was a lot to like about their performance. There was also a lot to work on. Cam was a little more limited in the running game than fans hoped, due to the coaches wanting to make sure his foot is healed completely. Cam’s throws looked sharp and accurate at the beginning of the game, but it got worse as it went on. He completed 80% of passes 1-10, 70% of passes 11-20, 60% of passes 21-30 and 50% on his last eight passes. This is the product of shoulder surgery and not getting a lot of reps in the preseason. However, it’s still something to watch moving forward. The Carolina defense looked promising at times, too. They will only get better. The emergence of James Bradberry and Shaq Thompson was nice to see.

2018 Team Stat Rankings

Bucs

Panthers
3rd- 6,648 yds
Total Offense
10th- 5,972 yds
1st- 5,125 yds
Passing Offense
16th- 3,836 yds
29th- 1,523 yds
Rushing Offense
4th- 2,136 yds
12th- 24.8 ppg
Scoring Offense
15th- 23.5 ppg
27th- 6,134 yds
Total Defense
15th- 5,651 yds
26th- 4,151 yds
Passing Defense
18th- 3,847 yds
24th- 1,983 yds
Rushing Defense
12th- 1,804 yds
31st- 29.0 ppg
Points Allowed
19th- 23.9 ppg

 

2019 Team Rankings

Bucs

Panthers
25th- 295 yds
Total Offense
22nd- 343 yds
26th- 174 yds
Passing Offense
22nd- 216 yds
13th- 121 yds
Rushing Offense
9th- 127 yds
24th- 17.0 ppg
Scoring Offense
16th- 27.0 ppg
6th- 256 yds
Total Defense
15th- 349 yds
3rd- 158 yds
Passing Defense
9th- 183 yds
14th- 98 yds
Rushing Defense
28th- 166 yds
26th- 31.0 ppg
Points Allowed
24th- 30.0 ppg

Against the Rams, Cam looked sharp at times, but as the game went on, his arm appeared to become more fatigued. This will get better with more reps. He should play well against Tampa. McCaffrey picked up where he left off in 2018 and had 128 rushing yards and 81 yards receiving. Carolina needs to pound the ball early and often to wear out Tampa’s defense.

Jameis Winston needs to protect the ball if he wants to pull off the upset. Winston has talent and potential, so he will be the focus for the Carolina defense. Ronald Jones and Peyton Barber will be heavily used on Thursday. Receiver, Mike Evans, had an off day in week one, he will look to improve.

Things to Watch

Carolina

In 2018, Cam had the second best completion percentage when using playaction. Carolina didn’t use it too much against the Rams, but they should use it more often. The offensive line protected Cam fairly well on Sunday, and they should only get better. Look for Cam to throw a couple of downfield passes to shut the critics up. The shorter passes were game-planned against the Rams so that Aaron Donald didn’t have time to get to him. Newton will likely run more too, since his foot injury is getting fully healed. The Bucs defense ranked 3rd against the pass, as they allowed only 158 yards through the air. Granted, they played the San Francisco 49ers. Newton should dominate, if all goes according to plan. Against LA, they only converted five of eleven on third down, so if Carolina wants to win, they’ll have to do better. In Cam’s career against Tampa, he has a quarterback rating of 92.8. He’s also scored 29 touchdowns against the Bucs, which is his lost against any opponent.

Christian McCaffrey will build on his week one performance. He will likely get 18-23 carries and will continue to be utilized in the passing game. Hopefully, Carolina will have a commanding lead, and fans get to see Jordan Scarlett in real action. The Bucs allowed 98 yards on the ground in week one, which was ranked 14th in the league. The Carolina running backs should have a pretty good day.

DJ Moore had a good day against the Rams Sunday, except for the fumble. While the fumbles are concerning, let’s not forget another dynamic wide receiver who fumbled a lot in his first two seasons. Steve Smith fumbled eighteen times in his first two seasons, as a receiver and returner. Not saying that Moore is the next Smitty, but people need to stop panicking about the fumbles. Carolina has a lot of speed at receiver, so they will look to punish Tampa’s secondary. Having Greg Olsen healthy again is a plus too. With Tampa’s lack of pass rush and iffy secondary, Carolina should flourish in the passing game.

Carolina’s defense wasn’t able to contain the ground game on Sunday, which is something that will need to be corrected this week. It will help that Carolina faces Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones. The Panthers did a sufficient job keeping Goff at bay. The Carolina defense will look to feast on Bucs’ quarterback, Jameis Winston, who threw three interceptions last week. If Carolina wants to win this game, they need to pressure Winston more than they did Goff. With Irvin out, look for Brian Burns to get even more playing time.

Tampa Bay 

Last season, the Bucs had a good offense mainly due to quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and deep threat, Desean Jackson. Winston played 11 games last season, and threw 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Winston started his 2019 campaign off bad, and will look to improve this week against Carolina. Carolina’s defense is ninth against the pass so far this season, but their pass rush was not as dominating as they had hoped. If Carolina can’t get to Winston, he will be more effective.

Ronald Jones had one of his best games last week, and will look to keep it going against Carolina. Last week, Todd Gurley had a pretty good day on the ground, as he had 14 carries for 97 yards. Bucs coach, Bruce Arians, will look to capitalize on the Panthers’ bad rush defense. Hopefully, Carolina will get better against the run this week.

Last week, Mike Evans was contained by San Francisco, and he would like to get more involved this week. Carolina corner, James Bradberry, usually shuts Evans down or limits him in every game. Last week, Chris Godwin, was Winston’s number one target. Godwin is a player to watch in this matchup, so look for Donte Jackson to cover Godwin quite a bit.

Tampa’s defense only had five total pressures against the 49ers, and will look to get to Newton more. Tampa’s secondary looked lost at times last week, but they do have some playmakers. Devin White and Lavonte David are talented, speedy linebackers who are capable of making plays against the pass and rush. It’s going to be a hard, uphill battle for this defense, and they just don’t appear up for the job.

Keys to a Carolina Victory

Run the ball early and often.

Pressure Winston.

Secure the ball.

Key Matchups

McCaffrey VS Bucs’ defensive line

Olsen/Thomas VS Bucs’ linebackers

Samuel/Moore VS Bucs’ secondary

Carolina’s pass rush VS Winston

Ronald Jones VS Carolina defense

Injury Report

Carolina

Bruce Irvin OUT (Hamstring)

Rashaan Gaulden QUESTIONABLE (Groin)

Greg Olsen QUESTIONABLE (Back)

Tampa Bay

Blaine Gabbert OUT

The Bucs come into this game relatively healthy, as they only have the backup quarterback out this week. The Panthers are still without newly signed linebacker, Bruce Irvin, as he is still dealing with a hamstring injury. Gaulden and Olsen are both questionable, but Olsen said he’s playing. With Irvin out, look for Brian Burns and Marquis Haynes to get extended work. If Olsen can’t go, Ian Thomas will get a lot of work.

Prediction

Even though Tampa beat Carolina in their last meeting, don’t expect it to happen this week. Carolina’s pass rush will get to Winston consistently and pressure him into 2-3 turnovers. The Panthers run defense will tighten up and only allow 75 total yards against the Bucs. The Carolina offense will have success and take this game at home on Thursday night football, 28-13.

 

 

Hot Takes With Monty: Week 1 Summary vs. Los Angeles Rams

Hot Takes with Monty

First before we get into this thing , let’s all give a huge round of applause and welcome back our beloved and favorite game … We all know, Football😍👋🏽. The wait is finally over. 
 
Now, we’re back at it. Week 1 of “Hot Takes w/ Monty” #4MR style. So let’s jump right into it.
 
1. CAM NEWTON 
 
– So for point #1, it’s only right that we start with #1. There is no sugar coating it. There is no way around it. Cam Newton had a sub par game, to say the least. We cant let the 65.7% passing fool us. Cam Newton couldn’t consistently deliver an accurate ball down field, and it further showed as the game went on. At times he looked to be flustered in the pocket and struggled to trust his protection, and he just never seemed to get in any kind of rhythm. The offense ultimately struggled b/c of it. With several misses to a wide open Olsen late in the 4th, with him completely overthrowing Samuel down the sideline late in the game as well … #1 put together a very disappointing performance in Week 1 against the defending NFC Champs, the LA Rams.
 
2. CMC 
 
– You can call him Run CMC, Duece Duece, White Lightning, whatever.  No matter what it is, just make sure you put BEST RB IN FOOTBALL at the end of it. If ever there were a game where one player totally carried his team to near success …THIS was it for Christian McCaffrey and the Carolina Panthers. With 19 carries for 128 yards on the ground along with 10 catches for 81 yards receiving and 2 Rushing TDs, Christian McCaffrey was easily the best offensive player on both teams. It’s just too bad his amazing performance couldn’t translate over to a win for the Panthers. In a game where there wasn’t much to be excited about concerning the offense, McCaffrey sure did deliver. With performances like these, CMC will surely be looking to cash in on a HUGE deal and extension hopefully from the Panthers this coming offseason. 
 
3. DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES/ JAMES BRADBERRY & SHAQ THOMPSON
 
– I’m truly having mixed feelings about our defensive unit as a whole today, especially after re-watching part of the game and calming down a bit. 
On one hand, we held Jared Goff, (a Pro Bowl QB) to 186 yards passing, 58.9% completion, and for majority of the game kept one of the best offenses in football to 20 points. But on the other hand, as the game went on, the defense got very sloppy. From mental mistakes that led to silly/costly penalties, to HORRIBLE tacking late in the game, matched with absolutely no pass rush in the 2nd half. For a defense that is supposed to be the best unit we have had since 2015 (on paper), we sure didn’t look like it at times.
– Now, all of that being said James Bradberry and Shaq Thompson are HERE ladies & gentleman. Both guys played lights out. From Shaq being a consistent big hitter and run stuffer, to JB coming down from coverage to get a sack on the QB. And we all love Bradberry being aggressive and coming down with a beautiful INT. Our defense flashed it’s dominace at times, as well as it felt a little like 2018 all over again. We need more out of this front 7 if we are serious about making the playoffs this year. 
 
4. DJ Moore, Turnovers and O-Line woes
 
– I know what everyone is gonna say. And I also know we all need someone to place blame on for today’s loss. Let me be the first to say …DJ had a rough game. And his fumbling problem is becoming a very frustrating issue that needs fixing asap. All being said, I still like what we have in both DJ and Curt Sam. We just didn’t see much of them. For the record, turnovers lost us this game. And we all will remember DJ’s fumble, but for the most part, DJ had a decent game. 7 catches for 76 yards on 10 targets isn’t a bad game. Cam just couldn’t consistently get our skill players the ball at times. On top of having a few miscommunications up front from the o-line that resulted in sacks on the QB. It was all around a very sloppy game from the offense. 
Sloppy game all around. 
 
– All and all …I still believe we have a very talented team. But we have a lot of work to do. 
Next stop, bring it on Tampa
#KeepPounding Carolina 
 
Offensive Game Ball: Christian McCaffrey
Defensive Game Ball(s): James Bradberry/Shaq Thompson

DIVISION RIVALRIES: Falcons

Prime Cuts with Norris

The rivalry between the Panthers and Falcons is one of the biggest in the NFL. The rivalry was dubbed “I-85 Rivalry” due to the teams being four hours apart down Interstate 85. The two teams have been rivals since Carolina’s inaugural year in 1995, as they were both in the NFC West division. In 2002, both teams were placed in the NFC South division, where they still play today.

The Panthers and Falcons have played in 48 regular season games and Atlanta leads the series 30-18. Even though Atlanta has 12 more wins than Carolina, the point totals are a little closer than one might think. In their rivalry, Atlanta has scored 1,028 points and Carolina has scored 943 points. That’s not a huge difference in points when you consider that former Falcons’ quarterback, Michael Vick, used to dominate the Panthers in nearly every meeting. Carolina has swept Atlanta three times in 1997, 2005 and 2013. Atlanta has swept Carolina nine times in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2018.

NFC WEST

The first meeting between the Panthers and Falcons came on September 3, 1995, in Atlanta. In Carolina’s first every regular season game, the Panthers took it into overtime, where the Falcons won by a field goal. The Panthers started fast, as they took a 13-3 lead in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Atlanta scored ten points in the second quarter to tie it up. Atlanta then scored a touchdown in the third quarter to take the lead. In the fourth quarter, Carolina quarterback, Frank Reich, threw a 44 yard touchdown to Willie Green to tie it up. In overtime, Atlanta’s kicker, Morten Anderson, sealed the victory with a 35 yard field goal. Carolina was led by Frank Reich, who threw for 329 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Willie Green has 7 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Mark Carrier had 5 catches for 96 yards and 0 touchdowns. Atlanta was led by Jeff George, who threw for 290 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception (by Carolina’s safety Brett Maxie). Atlanta’s receiving trio of Terrance Mathis, Eric Metcalf and Bert Emanuel had a combined 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. After losing the first game in the rivalry, Carolina would only win 5 out of the next 13 games against Atlanta while in the NFC West.

In 2001, the Falcons drafted a quarterback named Michael Vick from Virginia Tech with the first overall pick. Vick was considered one of the most dynamic athletes ever drafted, and he gave Carolina headaches from the moment he was drafted, mainly on the ground. Atlanta swept Carolina in Vick’s rookie year, even though he only played one game against Carolina once and only threw two passes.

NFC South 2002-2010

In 2002, the NFL realigned the division after the addition of the Houston Texans, who were an expansion team. The NFC South was born and the Panthers and Falcons remained rivals in that division. The Falcons would win six out of 10 games with Vick at the helm from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, Vick would become the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards. In his six years with the Falcons, Vick had 1,493 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in ten games against the Panthers. He also had 485 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Not huge stats from a guy who torched Carolina on more than one occasion. He was such a pain for Carolina, that they drafted hybrid linebacker, Thomas Davis, specifically to spy on Vick.

In August of 2007, Vick plead guilty to federal charges of dog fighting and was suspended from the NFL. He went to prison shortly thereafter. After a year of Joey Harrington at quarterback, Atlanta drafted Matt Ryan. In the four years after Vick, Atlanta would win five out of eight games.

Meanwhile, Jake Delhomme was the quarterback for Carolina until 2009. Jake has his struggles towards the end of his career after having Tommy John surgery in 2007. After Vinny Testaverde and Matt Moore played quarterback for the Panthers, they decided to go a different direction at quarterback in 2010. Carolina drafted quarterback, Jimmy Clausen, in the second round of the 2010 NFL draft. That season, Carolina only won two games, which gave them the number one pick of the 2011 draft.

Cam Newton Era

2010 was a tough season for Panther Nation, but it awarded them the number one pick in the 2011 NFL draft. Carolina selected their own duel threat quarterback, Cam Newton. Cam brought the excitement back to the Carolinas, and has had a lot of high scoring battles against the Falcons.

Since Cam was drafted, the Panthers are 6-10 against the Falcons. One of those losses came last season with Taylor Heinicke under center. The I-85 Rivalry has had some close games, and some blow outs. Despite the Falcons having 10 wins over Carolina, the Panthers have outscored Atlanta 368-359 since 2011. Also, the Falcons blew a 25 point lead in the Super Bowl.

In 2018, Atlanta placed second in the division with a record of 7-9. They didn’t have a whole lot of salary cap to work with, but here are some notable transactions:

Signed DE Adrian Clayborn

Signed DT Allen Bailey

Drafted G Chris Lindstrom

Drafted OT Kaleb McGary

Carolina upgraded their roster significantly this offseason and they should have a good chance at beating the Falcons. Carolina will look to build on the promising start they had in 2018, where they started 6-2. Marty Hurney transformed the Carolina roster during the offseason, so there was a lot of roster turnover. Carolina’s notable transactions:

Released CB Captain Munnerlyn

Re-signed S Eric Reid

Signed C Matt Paradis

Re-signed OT Daryl Williams

Signed DE/OLB Bruce Irvin

Signed WR Chris Hogan

Re-signed DT Kyle Love

Drafted DE/OLB Brian Burns

Drafted OT Greg Little

Signed WR Aldrick Robinson

Signed CB Javien Elliott

Signed DT Gerald McCoy

Signed S Tre Boston

Hurney was busy this offseason and the Panthers appear to be in win-now mode. Hopefully, it translates into wins on the field in 2019.

What to Expect in 2019

The expectations for the Panthers in the upcoming season, is to split the series with the Falcons. It’s entirely possible that Carolina will sweep Atlanta, given their vastly improved roster. These two teams battle hard whenever they meet, and it is always fun to watch. Here is a comparison of key players for both teams:

PANTHERS
CAR
ATL
FALCONS
Cam
Newton
✓
Matt
Ryan
Christian
McCaffrey
✓
Devonta
Freeman
Curtis
Samuel
✓
Julio
Jones
Greg
Olsen
✓
Austin
Hooper
Defense
✓
Defense

Cam Newton

VS

Drew Brees

In 14 games, Newton threw for 3,395 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2018. It should be noted that that Cam played injured from week nine to week fourteen.

In 16 games, Ryan threw for 4,924 yards, 35 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 2018.

As hard as this is to type, Matt Ryan was really good last year, and has been fairly consistent throughout his career. He has passed for 5,996 yards, 36 touchdowns and 16 interceptions for Atlanta in 22 games against the Carolina. In the last five years, Ryan has the most yards per attempt in the NFL. Newton has 3,241 yards, 21 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 15 games against Atlanta. Cam also has 721 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns in the same time frame. Unfortunately, Matt Ryan takes this one by a hair. This could change in 2019, as Carolina will have a healthy Cam Newton with a bevy of weapons and improved offensive line. 

Christian McCaffrey

VS

Devonta Freeman

Last season, McCaffrey had 219 carries for 1,098 yards (5.0 AVG per carry) and 7 touchdowns in 16 games. He also had 107 receptions for 867 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Last season, Freeman had 14 carries for 68 yards (4.9 AVG per carry) due to an injury. In week one, he sustained a knee bruise and missed three games. Then, a sports hernia ended his season.

McCaffrey wins this by a mile. Not to say Freeman isn’t a good running back, but he doesn’t have the upside that McCaffrey does. Atlanta hopes that Freeman has a bounce back year, but it won’t be enough to knock CMC out of first place. 

Curtis Samuel

VS

Julio Jones

Last season, Samuel had 39 receptions for 494 touchdowns and 5 touchdowns in 13 games. He missed time due to injury and it took time for him to become more integrated into the offense when he returned.

Last season, Quintorris Lopez (Julio) Jones had 113 receptions for 1,677 yards and 8 touchdowns in 16 games.

Jones has been a model of dominance and consistency throughout his career. Last year was no different, so Jones wins this by a landslide. It’s hard to tell what Samuel will do based on his injury history. Samuel could very well have a dominant season based on what everyone saw in training camp, but it remains to be seen if he will surpass Jones in 2019. 

Greg Olsen

VS

Austin Hooper

Olsen, who has had trouble staying healthy the last two years, only had 27 receptions for 291 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, in 9 games. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and get back to his Pro Bowl level, but there are no guarantees.

Last season, Hooper had 71 receptions, 660 yards and 4 touchdowns in 16 games.

Hooper has done well in Atlanta’s offense, but he isn’t the red zone threat that Olsen is. Olsen wins this based on him being completely healthy (he’s stated publicly that this is the first time he’s been 100% in two years), his blocking and his red zone dominance. Hopefully, Olsen will remain healthy and give Cam that safety net that he’s missed.

Panthers’ Defense

VS

Falcons’ Defense

Last season, Carolina’s defense was in the middle of the league, as they allowed the 15th most yards per game and the 19th most points per game.

Last season, Atlanta’s defense was towards the bottom of the league, as they  were 28th in yards allowed and 8th in most points allowed.

Carolina’s defense should be much improved this year, with the additions of Gerald McCoy, Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, Tre Boston and Javien Elliott. Carolina will also have a multi-look defense instead of a base 4-3 like in year’s past, so it will be interesting to see how much of a pass rush will be generated this season. Atlanta upgraded their defensive line, but it likely won’t be enough to make much of a difference. Carolina wins this matchup with ease. 

If Carolina stays relatively healthy, they should at least split the series with Atlanta. Judging by how poorly Atlanta did last year, it’s not impossible for Carolina to sweep Atlanta. It could honestly go either way, but Carolina has the talent to retake their throne atop of the NFC South.