Excuse me, but I don't understand the Panthers euphoria over Sunday's game. Yes Cam Newton was spectacular (a rookie debut record 422 passing yards and 2 touchdowns; & rushed for 18 yards and a TD), but last I checked Carolina came up 7 points short and lost the 2011 season opener. If I may borrow a line from former NFL head coach Herm Edwards, "You play to win the game!" And after a lackluster 2-14 season, winning should be all that matters to the Panthers and those that cheer for them. There are no moral victories in the NFL.
Look, I get it, Panthers fans are enthralled with Newton and they have every right to feel that way. This team didn't score 21 points in a single game until week 7 last year when they got their first win versus San Francisco 23-20. But Carolina was up 21-14 in the 4th quarter and couldn't hold on. Not only that, they lost to a team they beat last year without Cam Newton. Yes, fans want to see improvement, but when you have a chance to win -- especially on the road in the NFL -- you need to take advantage of it.
That is why I was so surprised by the excitement of the fans and even the media that cover this team in the wake of Sunday's defeat. I can guarantee you no one in the Panthers locker room is patting themselves on the back after the loss. Not the coaches, not the players and especially not Cam Newton. A die hard Panthers fan told me he hoped the Panthers could win 6 games this season. Certainly and improvement from last year's 2-14 campaign. Well guess what, Sunday was one of the winnable 6.
--Jason Brown
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