CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton believes the Carolina Panthers need to get out to a quicker and better start in games offensively and put up more points.
That may be the biggest understatement in the NFL this season.
To say the Panthers (3-3-1) have started their games slowly this season is putting it mildly. They have been woeful in the opening quarter and not much better in the second which usually has meant they trailed at halftime.
To detail just how bad Carolina's offense has been to start games, consider it is averaging just 2.43 points in the first quarter, having scored three points or less in five of seven games and no points in four of the opening quarters.
The second quarter hasn't been much better, but it has been a slight improvement. The Panthers are averaging 5.14 points in the second quarter this year.
Add the two quarters together and they produce an anemic 7.57 points scored in the first half.
It's a wonder Carolina has the record it has.
"My main focus going into this week is start fast and execute throughout the whole game," Newton said. "The challenges have already been set by coaches ... and we have to do a better job than we've been doing the last couple of weeks."
Truth be told, it's not exactly like Newton has helped his own cause in the first half, especially in the first quarter.
In the opening 15 minutes of games this season, Newton is completing a scant 55.9 percent of his passes and has a quarterback rating of 85.4, which is the lowest rating for any of the four quarters.
"We've got to be better," he said. "As a quarterback, I've got to get more completions early, put the ball in places where my guys can make plays, and get the offense going faster because Sunday, versus Green Bay, was unacceptable. And it's my job to make sure that ship is driving straight."
Last week's game against the Packers was about as bad as it gets. Carolina trailed 28-0 in the first half and 38-3 late in the game.
Newton said he is mindful to make sure not to let that game beat them twice by letting there be a carryover effect. However, it won't be easy as an angry Seattle team, which has lost two straight, comes to town. The Seahawks are a very difficult team to try and right the offense against.
But Newton said there's a simple way to get the offense going and that there will be
"The main focus should be getting a first down," he said. "When you get a first down and you hear that Panther roar, that kind of gets your juices flowing."
There's also another way, Newton says, that will definitely help this offense get moving up and down the field.
"Speaking of getting things going, it's going to be very important that our fans, as some people say, are 'turnt' as usual," he said. "We feel like that's our edge in most cases and we feel that will be our edge this week. We know as a player that nobody wants to cheer for mediocre talent and that's why we've got guys busting their tails each and every day."
