What needs to stop and what needs to continue for Carolina after an 0-2 start?

[Sir Purr]

Missed layups


Newton has gotten much better about taking what the defense gives him over the past couple years. But he’ll be the first to admit that he’s missed some throws he’s simply got to make.


It’s hard enough to create separation in the NFL. When targets are in the clear, the ball has to be there, especially when the Panthers aren’t getting much from Newton in the ground game.


"I am an extremely, brutally honest person with people and extremely, brutally honest with myself," Newton said after Carolina fell to 0-2. "It’s time for me to look at myself in the mirror and do some real soul searching because I had opportunities tonight and I didn’t get it done."


Losing the turnover battle


Win the turnover battle and you’ve got a great chance to win. Lose the turnover battle, and yeah, not good.


Carolina turned the ball over three times and created one takeaway in the season-opening loss to Los Angeles.


In the loss to Tampa Bay, the Panthers turned the ball over once and the Bucs never gave it away.


It’s a tried and true formula for success, or failure.


"One of our top priorities is to win the turnover battle," safety Eric Reid said, "and we didn’t do that."


Here's some data on the subject: Since the start of 2016, Carolina has played in 50 regular season games. They were on the losing end or even with their opponent in the turnover department 30 times with a record of 6-24. They won the turnover battle 20 times in that span, resulting in an 18-2 record.


Short-yardage shortcomings


The Panthers had three 4th-and-1 opportunities against the Bucs. They were turned away all three times.


Newton kept it, but was stopped for no gain on the first attempt in the first quarter (limited camera angles certainly did him no favors).


Newton was pressured immediately on 4th-and-1 early in the fourth quarter, which prevented him from connecting with Curtis Samuel, who was open for a big gain down the field.


And then we all know what happened on that fateful 4th-and-1 with 1:28 remaining in the game.


This short-yardage trend needs to change in a hurry.