–Quarterback Cam Newton has been dealing with some shoulder soreness, something that the Panthers tried to downplay after the Baltimore game.
But the issue came to light when Newton pointed out that he requested not to make a Hail Mary throw at the end of the first half because he didn’t want to risk aggravating his shoulder.
Head coach Ron Rivera said he appreciated Newton’s willingness to come out for that play.
“It was that one incidence. It makes sense. … To scrambling around and heave the ball like that, why take that chance?”
As it turned out, backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke entered and made a fourth-down pass to tight end Greg Olsen for a first down, leaving enough time for Graham Gano’s 54-yard field goal to end the half.
–The opposing team has scored first in the past five games against Carolina.
But the Panthers were ahead 24-7 at halftime last week against the Baltimore Ravens and that made a big difference.
“Getting a lead early helps your offense as well,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “It helped us to be able to have plays called on offense and defense … how we wanted to make calls.”
In both of the previous two games, the Panthers trailed 17-0.
The 7-0 hole against Baltimore was erased by the end of the first quarter when Carolina pulled even.
The Panthers scored first in their first two games of the season, defeating Dallas and losing at Atlanta.
–Tight end Greg Olsen seems back in a good groove after three games since returning from a foot injury. He has touchdown catches in each of the last two games.
“It’s nice to get back out there,” he said after his first home outing since the opener. “The last couple weeks (was about) getting my legs under me a little bit. But I feel like I’m starting to get back to what I’m used to.”
Olsen caught four passes for 56 yards against Baltimore. In the three games he’s played since returning, Olsen has picked up 109 yards on 10 catches.
BY THE NUMBERS: 13 — Touchdown passes for QB Cam Newton this year. That’s the most through seven games of a season in his career.
