This time, Cam Newton apologizes

There was no sulking on the bench this time.

But Cam Newton apologized afterward following the Carolina Panthers’ stunning 30-28 loss on Sunday at the Georgia Dome to the Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers seemingly had the game in hand before some defensive miscues allowed the Falcons to win the game on a field goal.

Newton passed for 215 yards and two touchdowns to post a 119.3 passer rating. He rushed for a career-high 86 yards and another touchdown but on a crucial third-and-two from the Falcons’ 46-yard line, Newton fumbled as he went for the first down. The Panthers recovered the ball to set up fourth down but had Newton maintained possession of the ball, it would have been a first down and Carolina would have likely ran out the clock.

In this league, you have to protect the football,” Newton said, according to the Charlotte Observer. “That was a key focus going into this game. I fumbled. It’s a lot of guys that’s trusting the ball carrier, whoever it is in any case, and I was the ball carrier on that particular play to get the job done. I failed.

“There’s no finger pointing in this game, especially not on this team,” Newton said. “So if you expect me to point somebody out, or do this, if anything you can point the finger at me.”

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

Upcoming Games