Cam Newton was the reason the Carolina Panthers hung with the Seattle Seahawks through three quarters Saturday. His turnovers were also the reason the game turned into a blowout in the end.
"I did a bad job of protecting the football," Newton said, per ESPN.com. "When you're playing a good defense, you've just got to take what they give you."
Instead, he forced a couple passes and paid the price.
"A lot of times I was overlooking the play that needed to be made, instead trying to make a bigger play," Newton said.
Two of Newton's three turnovers on the night led directly to Seahawks touchdowns. The first on an early miscommunication with running back Jonathan Stewart on a zone read that led to a fumble. The quarterback's final turnover was the backbreaker: a 90-yard pick six to Kam Chancellor.
Tight end Ed Dickson took some responsibility for the interception, which pushed the Seahawks' lead to 21 points at the time.
"I'm a big receiver, I could have worked back to the ball," Dickson said, per the Charlotte Observer. "I told Cam that, too. I said that's what we build off. We'll never be picked off on the backside of one of those again as long as I play with you."
The future looks bright in Carolina, but Saturday's turnovers were a reminder of the hurdles Newton and the Panthers still have to overcome on offense.
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