Perhaps in a month or so, the Carolina Panthers will wish they had a later bye week this season. But for quarterback Cam Newton, it's a break he's happy to take right now.
“I’m really looking forward to hitting a couple favorite little restaurants in Atlanta,” Newton said when asked about his bye weekend plans. “Just trying to get my body mended back up, mentally and physically.”
While leading the Panthers to a 4-0 start, Newton hasn't necessarily torn apart opposing secondaries. He's averaging just over 202 passing yards per game, which puts him at 31st in the NFL. But despite a receiving corps that's constantly lambasted nationally, he's averaging nearly two touchdown passes per game.
Newton is also making better decisions — he's thrown just two interceptions — and he's making his improved offensive line look even better. Newton's seven sacks are the fewest he's taken during his first four games of a season.
Newton Through Four Games
| Season | TD | INT | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| 2014 | 5 | 1 | 11 |
| 2013 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 2012 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
"It's his best complete football," coach Ron Rivera said this week. "The command he has of the game, of what we're doing on the offensive side, understanding how people are trying to attack and then trying to put us in the best position to have success.
"He understands. He's getting it. This is where you want to see him at this point in time in his career."
Newton is also sliding and running out of bounds more, which is smart considering he's rushing the ball more than ever. After averaging 7.5 attempts per game in his first four seasons, he's on pace for nearly 11 carries per game in 2015.
Next up for Newton is his nemesis. He's gone 0-4 against the Seahawks, who play at Cincinnati on Sunday before hosting Carolina in Week 6.
“The [Seahawks-Bengals] game will be on most definitely, but as far as me being focused in on it, I’ll probably be playing cards,” Newton said with a smile.
“Honestly, I don’t even like football that much, especially on a bye week.”
Whether he wants to watch or think about football, Newton's biggest goal this weekend is to take it easy. After the Panthers enjoy one of the earliest off weeks in the league, the long slog to January features a dozen games that will decide the success or failure of the 2015 season.
“[Head strength and conditioning coach Joe Kenn] told us we’d be a fool if we just sit at home and be lazy. I plan on doing something, getting on my feet, being active,” Newton said. “Because if we come back on Tuesday ready to go to practice and the dehydration comes in, then we already are a step behind.
“I was teasing about the slices of pizza and stuff like that, but that might be Wednesday night, Thursday night, Friday night. Saturday and Sunday you’ve got to start pushing away from the table a little bit.”