The Panthers are 10-0, with a two-game lead on the rest of the NFC for the top seed in the postseason. Based on Cam Newton's play on the road this year, Carolina definitely doesn't want to have to travel.
The Panthers have won all of their road games, true, but they haven't been terribly impressive while doing so. And maybe Newton gets extra amped up from playing at home and handing footballs to kids in the crowd after touchdowns. Whatever the case, he's putting up very modest numbers on away fields.
In six home games, for example, Newton has thrown 15 TDs. In his four road games, he's thrown just 5 TDs. Four of his five games this season with at least 245 passing yards have come at home; just one on the road.
Newton averages 35 rushing yards and has scored 2 TDs on the ground in those games, which is a large part of why you'd put him in a lineup. But he's been mediocre as a passer, and Dallas ranks 10th in pass defense.
Just something to keep in mind if you're planning on using Newton against Dallas on Thanksgiving.
| NEWTON PASSING ON THE ROAD | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opp | Com | Att | Yds | TD | INT |
| Jac. | 18 | 31 | 175 | 1 | 1 |
| T.B. | 11 | 22 | 124 | 2 | 0 |
| Sea. | 20 | 36 | 269 | 1 | 2 |
| Ten. | 21 | 26 | 217 | 1 | 0 |
--Andy Richardson