Cam Newton's first preseason start didn't go quite as he had hoped. The Carolina Panthers lost, 20-10, to the Miami Dolphins and were shut out when Newton was quarterbacking his team. The No. 1 overall pick the 2011 NFL Draft played the entire first half, completing just 7-of-14 passes for 66 yards. He did excite the crowd with a 50-yard Hail Mary pass to end the first half, but it fell incomplete. He had trouble connecting with his wide receivers; instead, five of his completions went to tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen.
Panthers Vs. Dolphins Final Score: Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen Fail To Create Room In Quarterback Battle In 20-10 Loss
Jimmy Clausen looked better for the Panthers this time around, leading them to two scoring drives in the second half. However, statistically, he didn't stand out over Newton. He completed 9-of-15 passes for 69 yards. Adi Kunalic kicked a 38-yard field goal and Tyrell Sutton rushed for a four-yard touchdown in the final quarter.
Miami's Chad Henne was the best quarterback on the field Friday night. He threw for nearly 200 yards on 15 completions. Reggie Bush helped Henne and the offense click, as he caught two passes for 33 yards and rushed eight times for 48 yards. Brandon Marshall grabbed five balls for 46 yards.
The Panthers (1-1) visit the Cincinnati Bengals for their next game. The Dolphins (2-0) also play on the road with a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Check out Cat Scratch Reader and The Phinsider for post-game analysis.
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