David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Cam Newton's goal is not to be taken out of another blowout loss

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – That backup quarterback Derek Anderson has appeared in three of the last five games for the Carolina Panthers normally would be a good sign.

Not this year.

Anderson played in eight games the past three seasons at Carolina. Six of his appearances were in mop-up roles at the end of blowout victories. Two were in mop-up roles at the end of blowout losses.

The Panthers (3-3-1) haven’t had any blowout wins this season.

So when Anderson has replaced Cam Newton, as he did Sunday in the fourth quarter of a 38-17 loss at Green Bay, it was for all the wrong reasons as far as the starter is concerned.

“It’s frustrating," Newton said on Wednesday. “It’s not frustrating coming out the game. It’s more frustrating that the product that you put out there didn’t keep your team in the game."

Carolina coach Ron Rivera understands quarterbacks like to finish what they start regardless of the situation. Had this been 2011, when the Panthers made Newton the first pick of the draft, Rivera would have left his franchise quarterback on the field.

“Early on in Cam’s career I would have left him in because he needed the development," Rivera said. “I don’t think he needs the development. But in light of the circumstances, we can’t expose him."

The circumstances are Newton is coming off ankle surgery in March and fractured ribs in August. The circumstances are Carolina has been without its top three running backs much of this season due to injuries and could be without two starters on the offensive line on Sunday against Seattle.

“He understands," Rivera said of Newton. “He gets it. He knows that there’s a certain point in a game like that, that the best thing is to take a step back, evaluate and protect him. I have to do that. It’s a long season.

“With everything that we’ve gone through, the last thing I would like to do is keep a guy in and have him get hurt. Honestly, I don’t really want to do it under those circumstances. I want to do it on the other circumstances when we’re winning."

If Newton comes out of Sunday’s game against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, he hopes it because the Panthers have a big lead. He understands to do that, the offense will have to start faster than it did against Green Bay and several other opponents.

While there’s been a lot of piling on the defense for giving up 21 first-quarter points against the Packers, it should be noted that the offense also wasn’t good.

Carolina gained only 5 yards in the first quarter, going three-and-out on its first two drives and picking up its only first down in the quarter on a penalty.

The Panthers finished the first half with just 113 yards and three points. Newton had a passer rating of 66.1, while Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a rating of 153.4.

“My main focus on everything that is going into this week is starting fast and executing the whole game," Newton said.

If he doesn’t, Anderson will have had as many relief appearances by the halfway point of this season as he had all of last season.

“Sunday vs. Green Bay was unacceptable," Newton said. “And it’s my job to make sure that ship is driving straight."

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