NFL fans are mystified about why Cam Newton didn't QB sneak instead of bizarre Panthers 4th down play
Not good.
NFL teams usually know the drill with short yardage plays when facing Cam Newton: The 6-foot-5, 245-pound quarterback takes the ball and leaps over the pile for a first down or a touchdown.
On Thursday night, in the Panthers’ 20-14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina faced a 4th and 1 on the 1-yard line with just 1:28 left. They were down by six. To everyone watching, it screamed a Newton QB sneak for the first down or even the score.
But Newton wasn’t under center. He was split out to the tight end spot and it was Christian McCaffrey who received the direct snap, faked a hand-off and was tracked down by Vernon Hargreaves before he could get the first down.
Everyone was mystified and wondering if Newton was okay.