Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: 49ers surge in Week 3, while Saints fall

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Richie James #13 and Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after Goodwin made a catch for a first down in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Richie James #13 and Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after Goodwin made a catch for a first down in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs off the field after their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs off the field after their game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

. 0-2. Previous: . Carolina Panthers. 24. team. 87

L 20-14 vs. Buccaneers

The Carolina Panthers looked like an offensive mess in Week 2 during their Thursday Night Football matchup against their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterback Cam Newton was completely out of sorts during the game, connecting on less than 50 percent of his pass attempts and taking an array of hits from the Bucs defense. Generally speaking, if Newton isn’t on point and defenses can contain running back Christian McCaffrey — the Buccaneers did, mostly — the Panthers will lose.

At least tight end Greg Olsen had a retro game, picking up 110 yards through the air in a consolation effort.

Despite that, the 0-2 start for Carolina doesn’t bode well for Newton at all, and this loss surely puts head coach Ron Rivera’s job in jeopardy by the end of this season.

If not sooner.

And what was up with that trick play sending McCaffrey to be just short of the first-down marker late in regulation? Why not punch the ball up the middle?