CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This is not what Cam Newton envisioned.

The Panthers star quarterback sounded distraught in the postgame press conference following the team’s 20-14 loss to the Buccaneers that dropped them to 0-2 with both defeats coming at home.

“I have to be better,” Newton said. “No matter what physical condition I’m in. No matter what, foot, shoulder … I didn’t get the job done, and it’s frustrating. I wish I could say something other than that, but that’s the fact.

“I’m a brutally honest person with people, and I’m a brutally honest person with myself. And it’s time for me to look myself in the mirror and do some real soul-searching, because I had opportunities tonight and I didn’t get it done.”

Carolina’s loss came on a night in which the Panthers were afforded numerous opportunities to even their record following a 30-27 home loss five days earlier against the Los Angeles Rams. The Panthers’ offense misfired time and again on a night in which Carolina’s points came on four field goals and a safety by Luke Kuechly.

“Through my lens, it’s hard to look defensive guys in the eyes after a game like this,” Newton said. “Offensively, we’ve got to hold up our end of the bargain. We just didn’t uphold our end. And we’re past due.”

Newton, who had offseason shoulder surgery and injured his ankle in the preseason, was questioned earlier in the week about his team’s lack of deep throws.

He appeared to answer those critics with a 44-yard completion to Curtis Samuel late in the first quarter. But offensive line breakdowns led to pressure on six throws and Newton was sacked three times. He completed 25 of 51 passes for 333 yards.

Additionally, Newton’s usually effective running game was again non-existent.

The third all-time rushing quarterback in NFL history, Newton followed his career-low minus-two yards in Sunday’s loss with a second-worst game of two carries for zero yards. For the season, Newton now has five carries for minus-two yards with two fumbles.

“Obviously it’s very frustrating,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “It’s very frustrating when so many things go against us. And at the end of the day, that’s on me. We’ve got a couple extra days to watch some things on tape. We’ll get those things worked out and those things corrected. We’ve got 15 weeks and we’ll take them one at a time.”

Newton said he heard — and understood — the fans’ frustration in the form of boos.

“It’s embarrassing,” Newton said. “I hear the fans. Walking off the field, I can’t deny the fact that I hear that. You can’t blame them. They deserve better.”

— With AP