BY Cory Spiers
coryspiers@gmail.com
There was no storybook ending the last time the Panthers and Patriots clashed in the regular season, but there was plenty of drama.
The last meeting with New England in 2013 was a big one for the Panthers, who entered the mid-November game with a 6-3 record.
That season, the Panthers tripped out of the gate to a 1-2 start before an early bye week in Week 4. The team lost its first game after the bye to Arizona but then won five straight before its Monday Night Football date with New England in Charlotte.
The Patriots were 7-2 and were fresh off their bye week.
In front of a prime time audience on ESPN, it was the streaking Panthers who surged ahead early.
Cam Newton hit receiver Brandon LaFell for a 9-yard score in the opening quarter and a 43-yard field goal from Graham Gano in the second quarter pushed Carolina's lead to 10-0.
The Patriots added a field goal to cut into the Panthers lead, trimming it to 10-3 at halftime.
The sleeping giant would only stay asleep for so long.
In the third quarter, Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown that tied the game at 10.
About eight minutes later, Newton found Greg Olsen for a 15-yard score but running back Stevan Ridley answered with a rushing touchdown in the fourth to tie the game again at 17.
After another Patriots field goal, it was time for Newton heroics with the Panthers trailing 20-17.
Newton delivered a late score to Ted Ginn Jr. to put the Panthers up 24-20, but there was plenty of time left for Brady, the future Hall of Famer.
Too much time, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera admitted earlier this week when he reflected on that Monday night duel.
And make things interesting, Brady did.
The Patriots drove into Panthers territory in the game's final minute.
With the ball inside the Carolina 25 and the clock winding down, Brady looked for Gronkowski again, this time in the back of the end zone.
The ball fell short and into the hands of safety Robert Lester but a yellow flag was also in the end zone.
Directly behind Lester, linebacker Luke Kuechly and Gronkowski were wrapped up. Physical coverage or a penalty?
The officials huddled and waved off the flag and instead of having to defend an untimed down from the 1-yard line, the Panthers took home their seventh win of the season in a campaign in which they would go on to win 12 games.
Lucky, or good?
Kuechly was quick to respond when asked about the controversial finish earlier this week.
"I might have gotten away with one."
And he may have. But on that night, Carolina would have undoubtedly taken lucky over good.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick took the high road when asked about Kuechly this week, admitting he is a great defensive player.
And he is. Regardless of what happened that November Monday Night.
Kuechly and Thomas Davis combined for 18 tackles that night. Lester's late interception was one of Carolina's two forced turnovers on the night-- Kawann Short also forced a Ridley fumble that Mario Addison promptly recovered.
Brady completed 29-of-40 passes for 296 yards and Newton finished 19-of-28 for 209 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Newton also ran seven times for 62 yards.
Both of Carolina's top two receivers from that game are long gone. LaFell hauled in a team-high seven passes for 59 yards and a score while Steve Smith caught four passes for 62 yards and also infamously told Aqib Talib to "ice up" as part of a night-long back-and-forth battle between the two.
Actually, this Sunday, the Panthers won't dress any of the players who caught a pass in the last win over New England. DeAngelo Williams had two receptions, Olsen had five and Ginn had one.
A lot has changed since these two teams clashed in the regular season. One thing we know, though, is four years isn't enough time for Brady to have forgotten how livid the controversial finish left him in Charlotte.
There are a multitude of questions facing this Panthers team, specifically on the offensive side.
Their backs are against the proverbial wall with Olsen out, Kalil in limbo and Kelvin Benjamin hobbled.
We'll see how they respond Sunday. Let's just hope it doesn't come down to a flag in the end zone.
coryspiers@gmail.com
There was no storybook ending the last time the Panthers and Patriots clashed in the regular season, but there was plenty of drama.
The last meeting with New England in 2013 was a big one for the Panthers, who entered the mid-November game with a 6-3 record.
That season, the Panthers tripped out of the gate to a 1-2 start before an early bye week in Week 4. The team lost its first game after the bye to Arizona but then won five straight before its Monday Night Football date with New England in Charlotte.
The Patriots were 7-2 and were fresh off their bye week.
In front of a prime time audience on ESPN, it was the streaking Panthers who surged ahead early.
Cam Newton hit receiver Brandon LaFell for a 9-yard score in the opening quarter and a 43-yard field goal from Graham Gano in the second quarter pushed Carolina's lead to 10-0.
The Patriots added a field goal to cut into the Panthers lead, trimming it to 10-3 at halftime.
The sleeping giant would only stay asleep for so long.
In the third quarter, Brady connected with Rob Gronkowski for a touchdown that tied the game at 10.
About eight minutes later, Newton found Greg Olsen for a 15-yard score but running back Stevan Ridley answered with a rushing touchdown in the fourth to tie the game again at 17.
After another Patriots field goal, it was time for Newton heroics with the Panthers trailing 20-17.
Newton delivered a late score to Ted Ginn Jr. to put the Panthers up 24-20, but there was plenty of time left for Brady, the future Hall of Famer.
Too much time, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera admitted earlier this week when he reflected on that Monday night duel.
And make things interesting, Brady did.
The Patriots drove into Panthers territory in the game's final minute.
With the ball inside the Carolina 25 and the clock winding down, Brady looked for Gronkowski again, this time in the back of the end zone.
The ball fell short and into the hands of safety Robert Lester but a yellow flag was also in the end zone.
Directly behind Lester, linebacker Luke Kuechly and Gronkowski were wrapped up. Physical coverage or a penalty?
The officials huddled and waved off the flag and instead of having to defend an untimed down from the 1-yard line, the Panthers took home their seventh win of the season in a campaign in which they would go on to win 12 games.
Lucky, or good?
Kuechly was quick to respond when asked about the controversial finish earlier this week.
"I might have gotten away with one."
And he may have. But on that night, Carolina would have undoubtedly taken lucky over good.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick took the high road when asked about Kuechly this week, admitting he is a great defensive player.
And he is. Regardless of what happened that November Monday Night.
Kuechly and Thomas Davis combined for 18 tackles that night. Lester's late interception was one of Carolina's two forced turnovers on the night-- Kawann Short also forced a Ridley fumble that Mario Addison promptly recovered.
Brady completed 29-of-40 passes for 296 yards and Newton finished 19-of-28 for 209 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Newton also ran seven times for 62 yards.
Both of Carolina's top two receivers from that game are long gone. LaFell hauled in a team-high seven passes for 59 yards and a score while Steve Smith caught four passes for 62 yards and also infamously told Aqib Talib to "ice up" as part of a night-long back-and-forth battle between the two.
Actually, this Sunday, the Panthers won't dress any of the players who caught a pass in the last win over New England. DeAngelo Williams had two receptions, Olsen had five and Ginn had one.
A lot has changed since these two teams clashed in the regular season. One thing we know, though, is four years isn't enough time for Brady to have forgotten how livid the controversial finish left him in Charlotte.
There are a multitude of questions facing this Panthers team, specifically on the offensive side.
Their backs are against the proverbial wall with Olsen out, Kalil in limbo and Kelvin Benjamin hobbled.
We'll see how they respond Sunday. Let's just hope it doesn't come down to a flag in the end zone.
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