Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers (-3.5)
All week, the Buccaneers looked like a sneaky pick to upset the suddenly awoken Panthers. That was, until quarterback Cam Newton was involved in a car crash, rendering him unavailable for Sunday’s game. Why should this news shift the pick towards the Panthers instead of away from them? How is Cam Newton missing a game a benefit to the team?
With a 3-8-1 record in games in which Newton has started, how is it not?
Cam Newton burst on the scene in 2011 with a prolific 4,000 yard season. His team promptly won six games. His sophomore year was a bit more human — 3,869 yards and 19 touchdowns, but a nice improvement in ball security — still, the team won only seven games. Finally, in 2013, the Panthers broke through for twelve wins. Again, in Newton’s twelve starts, this season, Carolina has three wins and a tie.
Maybe Cam Newton will return to the electric form we saw a few years ago. Maybe he is the best man to lead a team over the course of a season. But Derek Anderson — with as many double-digit win seasons as Newton — has already proven he is a viable option to lead the Panthers in a given game. Especially, against the Buccaneers.
Anderson’s only start, this season, came as a last-minute public announcement on Opening Day. At the time, the Panthers had entered the week as a slight underdog. Immediately after the news hit, people jumped ship to Tampa Bay almost instantly. Carolina won by six.
Don’t get fooled again.
Most quarterbacks have an impact over a long stretch of time — Carson Palmer’s season-ending injury. Some quarterbacks have an impact over a stretch of a few plays —Â Tony Romo‘s short absence against the Redskins. Carolina doesn’t need Superman this week. It needs an experienced veteran to fill in against an atrocious opponent.
The Panthers win by a touchdown and cover.
Comments are closed.