At 5-7 with five weeks to go, all the Carolina Panthers can do is take the final stretch of 2021 step by step. Whether those steps lead them to an eventual postseason berth is something Cam Newton isn’t concerned about . . . at least not right now.
The 11th-year quarterback took the podium on Thursday ahead of the team’s Week 14 contest against the Atlanta Falcons. And when presented with the mere mention of “playoffs,” Newton said he’s primarily focused on just chalking up a win.
“Can we please stop mentioning that word?” Newton said. “I’m trying to get a win. Hell, I’m 0-2. I’d be lying to somebody talking about playoff football. But the important thing for me is, and no disrespect to your question, we know what the grand scheme of things is. But the reality is, I’m 0-2. The feel-good story of Cam coming back, and I said this then and I’ma say it now, this ain’t no Cinderella [story]. I’m here to win football games.”
That winning must start for the reeling Panthers this Sunday, where their hopes will be all but crushed with yet another defeat. They sit one game behind the seventh and final NFC playoff spot, currently held by the 6-6 San Francisco 49ers.
While that one game may not seem like such a tall task to overcome with over a month of ball to go, the teams ahead of Carolina hold key head-to-head tiebreakers from earlier matchups this season. Those fellow contenders include the Washington Football Team, the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Newton knows he also must be better, coming off a horrendous outing against the Miami Dolphins in Week 12, to help keep whatever is left of the team’s configuration intact.
“I’m here to win. And when we win, everybody else gets promotions,” Newton added. “And when you don’t, a lot of people are gonna get cut along the way. So that’s just the harsh reality of the league that we play in. But I’m not telling you nothing that you don’t know. I just want the message of this to be—I’m focused all on Atlanta.”
So while it may be too late for Joe Brady, Cam hopes it isn’t too late for anybody else—himself included.
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