Cam Newton slipping, Carolina Panthers’ season on the brink

A year after almost everything went right for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers, they are taking one wrong turn after another.

The Panthers have followed their Super Bowl disappointment by going 2-6-1 against the spread this season. Carolina is a 3½-point home favorite over New Orleans on Thursday in a critical game for both teams in the NFC South race. The total is 52.

Both teams found ways to blow their respective games last week. The Panthers (3-6) gave away a 17-0 lead against Kansas City, and the Saints (4-5) suffered a bizarre loss to Denver.

I prefer the recuperative powers of New Orleans, a team already tested after starting 0-3.

Drew Brees has covered all five times as an underdog this season, and he burned the Josh Norman-less Carolina secondary for 460 yards passing in a 41-38 victory at the Superdome on Oct. 16. Brees ranks second in the NFL in passing yards (2,992) and is tied with Atlanta’s Matt Ryan for first in touchdown passes (24).

Newton’s numbers (10 touchdown passes, seven interceptions) have slipped significantly from his Most Valuable Player season.

The Saints managed covers — once with Luke McCown at quarterback — in both series meetings during the Panthers’ Super Bowl run last year.

The Gold Sheet pick: Saints, 31-23

Las Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall is editor of The Gold Sheet (Goldsheet.com).