Cam Newton threw 15 interceptions this season where 12 were in the regular season and 3 were in the postseason. In my previous film analysis we took a look at Newton’ 27 touchdown passes to see how he completed. This film breakdown will look at the opposite impact for his team that hindered the Panthers’ performance.
Regular Season Stats
Newton – 262/448 (58.5%), 6.98 y/a, 18 TDs, 12 INTs, 103 rushes for 539 yards and 5 TDs
Postseason Stats
Newton – 41/68 (60.3%), 6.53 y/a, 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 18 rushes for 72 yards
Play 1
Situation: 2nd and 10 at CHI 25
Description: Q2 – (4:54) C.Newton pass short middle intended for B.Williams INTERCEPTED by L.Briggs (E.Ferguson) at CHI 21. L.Briggs to CHI 23 for 2 yards (B.Williams). The Replay Official challenged the pass completion ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.
Opponent: 5. CHI
Offensive Formation: Singleback Trips Bunch Left – “Lou” Call
Offensive Personnel: 12
Defensive Formation: Cover 1
Newton snaps the ball from under center watches the left side of the field. WR82 Cotchery lines up on the left side of the bunch and runs a wheel route, while TE84 Dickson is in front of the bunch running a seam route to find a gap between the linebackers and single-high safety. Newton releases the ball and it gets batted at the line of scrimmage into the air. LB55 Briggs dives at the ball and grabs it out of the air before it hits the ground.
This is a good defensive play by DE69 Allen to deflect the ball and Briggs deserves credit for the great catch on the play. Looking at Newton’s decision he was targeting TE84 Dickson on the seam route, which would have been a tight squeeze but a good decision.
Play 2
Situation: 3rd and 13 at CAR 29
Description: Q4 – (3:36) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass deep middle intended for K.Benjamin INTERCEPTED by R.Nelson at CIN 45. R.Nelson ran ob at CAR 24 for 31 yards (R.Kalil).
Opponent: 6. CIN
Offensive Formation: Shotgun Split Slot Right
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 3
Newton in shotgun takes the snap and immediately looks to the slot receiver running an out-route underneath the deep Cover 3 zone shell. After realizing he’s covered, Newton progresses to find WR13 Benjamin runnign a deep-in route to the first down marker. Newton does a good job of stepping into his throw knowing he will get hit by the defensive line running stunts. Unfortunately, Newton throws the ball high sailing it over Benjamin’s fingertips right into FS20 Nelson’s hands for the interception.
The mistake here is on Newton for overthrowing the ball, but also the decision-making process to force it to Benjamin while he’s under pressure. Situationally it’s 3rd and long on Carolina’s own 29 yard line with under 4 minutes left in the game. The Panthers are tied 31-31 so a mistake here could be the end of the game for the Panthers. In my opinion, Newton needs to take the flat route ran by TE88 Olsen and hope he can make the first down by breaking tackles or at least set up a short 4th down situation if the Panthers wants to go for it. Forcing a pass into three defenders surrounding your number one wide receiver isn’t the correct decision here.
Play 3
Situation: 1st and 10 at GB 37
Description: Q3 – (2:31) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short left intended for B.Bersin INTERCEPTED by C.Hayward at GB 30. C.Hayward to CAR 49 for 21 yards (J.Cotchery).
Opponent: 7. GB
Offensive Formation: Shotgun Trips Left Far – “Rope” Call
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 3 with four underneath zone linebackers
Newton from shotgun runs play-action to RB28 Stewart and attempts to feed the ball to WR11 Bersin running a go-route on the sideline between defender zones. This is an easy interception by CB29 Hayward sitting in zone coverage. Just a poor decision by Newton who doesn’t identify the zone coverage. This ball should have been to WR82 Avant running to the left flat on 1st down.
Play 4
Situation: 3rd and 7 at SEA 34
Description: Q3 – (13:25) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short left intended for G.Olsen INTERCEPTED by M.Burley [G.Scruggs] at SEA 36. M.Burley to CAR 40 for 24 yards (R.Kalil).
Opponent: 8. SEA
Offensive Formation: Shotgun Trips Left Far – “Rope” Call
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 2
This is one of Newton’s worst interceptions in 2014. After Newton takes the snap he gets flushed out of the pocket scrambling to his left and tries to flip the pass to TE88 Olsen while falling down but the ball gets picked by CB28 Burley instead. At this point in the game the Panthers are up by 3 points at the start of the 3rd quarter and this is just a careless error that allows the Seahawks to tie the Panthers and eventually beat them at home.
Play 5
Situation: 2nd and 2 at NO 41
Description: Q2 – (11:06) (Shotgun) C.Newton pass short middle intended for B.Bersin INTERCEPTED by C.White at NO 26. C.White to NO 28 for 2 yards (G.Olsen).
Opponent: 9. NO
Offensive Formation: Shotgun Pro Split
Offensive Personnel: 21
Defensive Formation: Cover 2
In this play, Newton has time to go through his reads and find WR11 Bersin on the hitch route over the middle underneath the Cover 2 shell. The ball is outside Bersin, but it hits him in the hands and bounces right into CB24 White’s hands for the interception. Even though the ball isn’t perfectly on target it still hits Bersin in the hands, so it should be caught. It’s just unfortunate it tips right into the defenders’ hands.
