Some considered Thursday’s prime-time matchup with the Saints a ‘must-win’ game for the Panthers. It turned into a must-forget performance for Cam Newton.

The fourth-year quarterback had arguably his worst game as a pro, posting career lows in completions (10), completion percentage (35.7) and passer rating (39.4).

“I know I missed a lot of throws. I’m not blaming anybody but myself,” Newton said.

The Panthers’ first play from scrimmage was a sign of things to come. Receiver Kelvin Benjamin had a step on his defender, but Newton fired long on a deep ball.

On the next drive, receiver Jerricho Cotchery was open inside the Saints’ 10-yard-line, but Newton lobbed a pass off his back foot, allowing a couple defenders to knock the ball out of Cotchery’s hands.

“(Newton) had some guys open, and he overthrew them,” head coach Ron Rivera said. “We dropped a couple as well. It’s twofold. It’s not just about that. I think we all have to shoulder responsibility on this one.”

Newton certainly wasn’t the only player to blame for the inept offense.

Usually sure-handed wideout Brenton Bersin let a second-quarter pass bounce off his hands for an interception.

Benjamin saw 10 targets, but only two turned into completions. And for the second straight week, he dropped a pass in the end zone.

“I think he could have (caught it),” Rivera said. “I thought the ball was delivered at a pretty good spot. It was coming in hot, and there was a defender on him, but he has made those catches, and as he grows and develops as a receiver, he’ll know he has to make all those plays.”

Another problem for the second straight game was a lack of looks toward tight end Greg Olsen. He had three catches on four targets, a week after he had just one reception on three targets.

“There’s a lot that goes into who gets the ball, when you get the ball. There’s a lot of moving parts. This is not one-on-one on air,” Olsen said.

The Panthers again used Olsen as a blocker on a handful of pass plays, the result of a patchwork offensive line. Guard Andrew Norwell and tackle David Foucault, a couple undrafted rookies, made up the left side of the line, and the Saints exposed their inexperience late in the second quarter.

On 3rd-and-9 from the Panthers’ 8-yard-line, outside linebacker Junior Galette slipped past Foucault. Newton, who moved to his right when he felt the initial pressure, coughed up the ball when he was hit from behind by Galette. The Saints recovered the fumble at the 4-yard-line, and two plays later, they led 7-0.

“I didn’t know the quick set, and he snapped the ball,” Foucault admitted. “I was late in my kick, and that’s why I turned. I turned fast, and the guy just got by me fast. I was really late.”

But just like Newton, Foucault deserves only a share of the blame. Nearly everyone on the offense — including coordinator Mike Shula — had a hand in the prime-time debacle. But as the face of the unit and the franchise, Newton will shoulder most of the burden.

“Everybody’s looking for a magic play. Everybody’s looking for somebody to say something, for somebody to do something and take responsibility for themselves,” Newton said. “I need to be better. I need to play better. I feel like if I do that, we’re moving in the right direction.”

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