David Newton
ESPN Staff Writer
Slow starts are killing the Panthers. For the second straight week they failed to score a touchdown in the first half, trailing Tampa Bay 10-9 in this one. And they needed a 54-yard field goal by unknown Joey Slye on the final play to get within one. The lightning delay was more exciting than Cam Newton and the offense. Newton did manage a completion longer than 17 yards ? a 44-yarder to Curtis Samuel. But Christian McCaffrey, a week after rushing for 128 yards and catching 10 passes for 81 yards, was almost non-existent with 30 yards rushing and one catch for six yards. That has to change or this could be a season on the brink.