Newton Returns Home

AP Photo
"Atlanta I'm home.. As they say I'm Backkk." -Cam Newton

Cam Newton returned home to Atlanta this pass weekend as he Carolina Panthers took on the Atlanta Falcons.  Fans packed the Georgia Dome ready to see the hometown phenomenon in  person, some fans with Cam's panthers jersey on, some with Cam's Auburn jersey and the rest in the Falcons red and black.  The game started out going toe for toe between the Falcons and Panthers but Cam and the Panthers were unable to hold on falling to the hometown Falcons 31-17.

Falcons returned to the running game with top draft pick Julio Jones being out this game due to a hamstring injury that was suffered in week 5 against the Packers, a running game that was very successful last season when the Falcons went 13-3.  Michael Turner had a big game, which some expected would occur, and already had 62 rushing yards before halftime when the week before he only had 56 rushing yards for the entire game.  

During halftime the Falcons had a tribute for Deion Sanders as owner Arthur Blanks presented the Pro Football Hall of Famer his bronze bust.  During the 3rd quarter Newton gave Sanders a tribute of his own as Newton did the famous "Sanders 2-step" after rushing into the endzone for a touchdown, a touchdown which put the Panthers on top of the Falcons. Soon after the table would soon turn for the Cam Newton and his Panthers during the 4th quarter.  Falcons' Peters intercepted Cam Newton's pass with 6:06 left in the game giving the Falcons the ball back on the Panthers' 39 yard line.  Michael Turner later sealed the deal for the Atlanta Falcons scoring a touchdown with 1:56 left in the game putting the Falcons up 31-17.  Cam Newton ended the game at home by being picked off by Falcons' DeCoud in the endzone.

Turnovers played a big key in the game with the Panthers having 3 turnovers compared to the Falcons having zero.  Newton had 237 passing yards and 50 rushing yards, 14 yards rushing for the touchdown during the 3rd quarter.  For the Falcons Matt Ryan ended the game with 163 passing yards and 1 touchdown, and Michael Turner had 27 carries for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns.  It will be interesting to see if the Falcons will continue with the running game which was successful for them this week or continue to try the passing game once Julio Jones will return.   I do know that with Cam Newton once the Panthers get these figured out in Carolina they will be a key team in the NFL.