If we can see Newton struggling to get vertical, you can sure bet NFL defensive coordinators see it. The Saints routinely lined up just one safety about 15 yards downfield. That came a week after interim head coach Gregg Williams admitted the Browns were squatting on routes, including one where Newton underthrew Curtis Samuel, who had initially beaten his man in coverage.

When asked how his shoulder was feeling after Monday's game, Newton quipped, "It's all right."

But when pressed, he revealed his true frustration.

"You do any and everything to make sure your body is at peak performance. From cardio, treatment, practice, film, cardio, treatment, practice, film. It's been repetition. I think it's disheartening to me because there's so much invested time put in," Newton said.

"Obviously my arm hasn't allowed me to do a lot of practice. I've been on a pitch count for a long time, but at the end of the day, it is what it is. That's not a scapegoat. That's not something that I want people to bail me out on. It's just something that is reality."

The reality isn't pretty.

According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Newton has completed just four of 16 attempts that have traveled 20-plus yards beyond the line of scrimmage during the Panthers' six-game losing streak. He didn't even attempt one Monday while going 16-for-29 for only 131 yards, the fourth- lowest total of his career.

But stretching the field has been a struggle all year. Those same Next Gen Stats say Newton has completed a total of nine passes of 20-plus yards. That's a tough way to win in the NFL.

So what the heck is going on? The results are clear. The answer isn't.

"I wish I could say what the injury is because I don't really know what it is either," Newton admitted. "No matter how much you push, no matter how much you ice, the anti-inflammatory you take. Trust me, I've done it. Acupuncture, massages. There's not a night that goes by without me getting some type of work done on my arm. You just don't have the strength.