CHARLOTTE – It took a while, but the Falcons defense finally made Cam Newton look like a rookie.
Newton, the Panthers’ first-year quarterback out of Westlake High and Auburn, directed his team to a 16-point halftime lead over the Falcons Sunday. He had completed 9 of 13 passes for 147 yards, two touchdowns and had a first-half quarterback rating of 146.5.
“This game is about playing 60 minutes,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “They are not 30 minute ball games.”
The Falcons won the second half 24-0 en route to the 31-23 victory. Newton was 10 of 26 for 129 yards with two interceptions in the second half, 48 yards coming on one completion to Steve Smith. Newton finished the game with a 67.9 quarterback rating.
“There was no reason to panic. This isn’t a group that panics," the Falcons coach said. "The two big turnovers to start the second half really changed the momentum and changed the mindset, not only of our football team but our opponent as well.”
On the Panthers’ second possession of the second half, Newton was heavily pressured by defensive linemen John Abraham and Corey Peters. As Peters grabbed Newton, the quarterback tried to shovel a pass to running back Jonathan Stewart. Linebacker Mike Peterson intercepted the ball.
“Get to the end zone,” Peterson said of his first thought after the interception. “They teach you to catch the ball first but I know I’m going to catch the ball. I’m real confident in my hands. I know I’m going to catch the ball. It’s just a matter of not letting the guy strip the ball behind me. I tried my best to get to the end zone.”
Peterson, who had an interception return for a touchdown nullified by a penalty last week, made it only four yards. However, it set up the Falcons offense. Two plays later Matt Ryan hit Jacquizz Rodgers for a 31-yard touchdown.
On the Panthers’ ensuing drive, Newton was high with a pass intended for Brandon LeFell. Safety William Moore intercepted the pass. It was Moore’s first action in two and a half games. After missing two games with thigh and groin injuries, Moore was active but did not play against the Vikings and Texans. He didn’t see the field Sunday until he replaced James Sanders to start the second half.
“My expectations were high this year,” Moore said. “As far as what has happened in the past, I never let that affect me. When I’m on the field, I play football. They know that. It was good to get out there and fly around.”
Smith said the Falcons made several subtle changes to the defensive scheme and personnel. Inserting Moore into the game was one of those changes.
“We made some mistakes in the first half of the ball game,” Smith said. “We weren’t real clean and crisp in our tackling and gave up two explosive plays. … We came out and made a couple plays on defense and before you know it you look up and you are right back in the ball game.”
The Panthers managed just 42 yards rushing and 129 yards passing in the second half.
Abraham said the Falcons simplified their defensive approach.
“We just said, just let us play,” Abraham said. “All of the little stuff, people doing this and that, it was a lot of stuff going on. We just had to take a deep breath and just play our football game.”
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