Now that’s what Cam Newton was expecting.
Newton led Carolina’s high-powered offense to 17 first-quarter points and outplayed rookie Ryan Tannehill on Friday night as the Panthers defeated the Miami Dolphins 23-17 in a preseason game.
After an uninspiring effort last week against Houston, Newton looked extremely sharp completing 8 of 11 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers jumped all over the injury-depleted Dolphins defense early.
Newton led the Panthers to two touchdowns and a field goal in his three possessions before exiting with 1:12 left in the first quarter along with most of the other starters.
Last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year threw a touchdown pass to DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart scored on a 2-yard plunge as a fired-up Panthers squad avenged a lackluster performance in a 26-13 loss to the Texans.
“Last week I felt kind of rushed,” Newton said. “Coach (Ron Rivera) told me I wasn’t going to be in that long and I kind of panicked to a degree. I didn’t let the game come to me. Today I knew I had a lot more time to work and when you know that you’re in there for longer than a couple of series you try to let the game come to you.”
Newton got plenty of help Friday night.
Unlike last week when the Panthers offensive line surrendered eight sacks to Houston, Newton had plenty of time to work through his progressions and find open receivers against a Dolphins defense playing without Cameron Wake, Kevin Burnett and Karlos Dansby.
“We kind of came out with a different mentality this week,” Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith said. “We’re getting closer and closer to getting in the swing of things as the season approaches.”
Tannehill made his first preseason start for start for the Dolphins.
He played the entire first half and led six possessions — four of which ended in three-and-out. He found himself under heavy duress for most of the game as the Panthers sacked him three times and batted down three balls at the line of scrimmage.
He finished 11 of 23 for 100 yards passing.
