Panthers return to championship form

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton said this season is starting to have that “kind of special feeling” to it again.

Two years after winning their third consecutive NFC South title and reaching the Super Bowl, the Carolina Panthers are seemingly rounding into championship form again after back-to-back victories against division foes Atlanta and Tampa Bay.

The Panthers (6-3) are gaining momentum behind the league’s No. 1-ranked defense entering tonight’s game against the Miami Dolphins.

“I just like the way that this team is forming together, especially what’s been happening in recent weeks or whatever,” Newton said. “This team has not been disconnected. We came together.”

The Panthers should get a big boost when tight end Greg Olsen returns from a broken foot after next week’s bye.

And if Newton and the offense can develop some consistency and the defense can begin forcing turnovers — they only have eight so far this season — the Panthers could be a dangerous team down the stretch.

Carolina’s offense has gone through some ups and downs playing the past seven games without Olsen and dealing with the trade of No. 1 wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to Buffalo.

“We’re still striving, knowing that we haven’t played our best brand of football yet,” Newton said.

The same “kind of special feeling feel” can’t be applied to the Dolphins season so far.

Miami lost starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the season in training camp, had its offensive line coach resign over an incident where he was videotaped snorting a white powdery substance, and traded running back Jay Ajayi in what has been a drama-filled season.

Still, the Dolphins (4-4) are alive in the AFC despite backto-back losses to Baltimore and Oakland.

It will be interesting to see how the Panthers use running back Jonathan Stewart after the 10-year veteran turned the ball over twice on fumbles last week against the Falcons. Stewart saw his role diminish late in the game as the Panthers turned to rookie Christian McCaffrey, who ran for a career-high 66 yards.

Panthers offensive coordinator Mike Shula insisted he hasn’t lost faith in Stewart, even though he is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry. However, McCaffrey hasn’t exactly stood out — also averaging a mere 2.9 yards per carry.

The Dolphins haven’t had a lead entering the fourth quarter all season, which has hampered their pass rush, Coach Adam Gase said.

The front four includes Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake and is considered the team’s strength, but the Dolphins are only tied for 23rd in the NFL with 16 sacks.

“I’d love for us to lead one of these times,” Gase said. “I just want to see us one time with a lead late in the third quarter and going into the fourth quarter, and watch those guys go to work. We haven’t given them that opportunity. The offense has really taken it personally that we haven’t done that yet.”