CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers walked out of Bank of America Stadium late Monday morning, and every player I talked to was confident they had the leadership and talent to be something in 2012.

I suspect last season Tampa Bay was similarly confident. The Buccaneers won 10 games in the 2010 season. This year they quit and their coach was fired.

For Carolina to contend in 2012 it has to do several things right.

What do you guys think about this.

The Carolina Panthers played the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 1^st in the final regular season game. The Panthers were hoping to continue their strong end of season play, while the Saints were looking to clinch a better playoff seed. The Saints came out big winners, 45-17.

Cam Newton and the Carolina offense never really got going. Newton threw for 158 yards as he completed 15 of his 25 passes with a touchdown and an interception. Jonathan Stewart had a good day running the ball as he rushed for 79 yards on nine carries, scoring a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 53 yards on his seven carries. Steve Smith broke Mushin Muhammed’s all-time receptions record as a Panther. Smith caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.

However, this game was really all about the Saints and their high-powered offense. The Saints broke records for offensive yards (7, 474), team yards passing (5, 347) and first downs (416). Drew Bress also set another individual record, breaking his own for completion percentage he set back in 2009 with a 70.6 completion percentage. He finished this season completing 71.6.

Against the Panthers, Brees threw for 389 yards with five touchdowns and an interception, completing 28 of 35 passes. Marques Colston led the Saints in receiving with seven catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jimmy Graham also had a strong game catching eight balls for 97 yards. The Saints even got a great effort from the rushing game. Chris Ivory ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

The Panthers kept the game close at half time, but the Saints pulled away after the intermission. With such a dominating offensive display by the Saints, it was always going to be tough for Carolina to pull out a victory.

However, with the loss the season can still be considered a success. The Panthers were a much better and more exciting team with Cam Newton than they were a year ago. Also, they were in mostly every game this season and with strengthening in the off-season through the draft and free agency, the Panthers should be competing for a playoff spot next year.

The future for the Panthers is certainly much brighter than it was a year ago and even after the blowout loss, I am excited to see what the Panthers can do in the 2012 season.

*All stats found on espn.com

Although living several hundred miles from Charlotte, Matthew Levine bleeds Carolina blue. He has followed the Panthers since their inaugural season in 1995 and was absolutely heart-broken over the 2003 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

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Drew Brees
and
Cam Newton
both wrote their names into the NFL record books in Week 16, adding acclaim to what have been fantastic campaigns from each.

While Newton looks to conclude his tremendous rookie season on a high note, it remains to be seen if Brees will take the field
at home Sunday against the
Carolina Panthers
with the playoff-bound
New Orleans Saints
possibly choosing to err on the side of caution.

Brees threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns – breaking Dan Marino’s mark of 5,084 passing yards set in 1984 – and the Saints
clinched their second NFC South title in three years with Monday night’s 45-16 rout of Atlanta.

“This record isn’t about one person. There might be just one name that goes in ledger under the record, but it’s really about
the team,” Brees told his teammates. “I want everyone to feel a huge part of this, that this record would not have been possible
without them.”

New Orleans (12-3), which has the third seed in the NFC locked up, can only improve its postseason position with both a victory
over the Panthers (6-9) and an unlikely San Francisco loss to St. Louis. Given the circumstances, coach Sean Payton could
choose to rest Brees for most – if not all – of Sunday’s game.

Payton found himself in a similar situation after clinching the division early in 2009. He decided to hold Brees out of the
regular-season finale at Carolina that year before ultimately leading New Orleans to its first Super Bowl championship in
franchise history.

“It was what we needed to do as a team (at that time). “You make decisions. They are not always right. You try to make them
with the right things to help your team,” said Payton, whose team has outscored opponents by an average of 15.6 points during
a seven-game winning streak.

“We just have to be smart. We are playing well, with some momentum. Each year is different.”

With 5,087 passing yards, Brees enters Week 17 just 190 ahead of New England’s
Tom Brady
– leaving Payton with a difficult decision. With the Patriots needing a win to clinch the top spot in the AFC, Brady could
very well surpass Brees’ mark if the Saints’ QB doesn’t play.

“I’m not really aware of the space between the two. I am probably better off not knowing,” Payton said.

“(We have to) put ourselves in the best position to play well and put ourselves in an opportunity to win a championship.”

Chase Daniel
, now in his second NFL season, figures to start if Brees is held out. Daniel has attempted just five career passes.

Though the Panthers will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season, they have plenty to be excited about heading into
next year thanks to Newton. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft has led Carolina to four wins in five games and helped
post the second-highest scoring output in franchise history during Saturday’s 48-16 dismantling of Tampa Bay.

Newton completed 12 of 17 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing
Peyton Manning
‘s previous record for passing yards by a rookie.

“For me to come in and do this is a tribute to so many people, including my coaches,” Newton, who’s thrown for 3,893 yards
and run for another 674, told the team’s official website.

“(My teammates) make my job easy. All I’ve got to do is put the ball in their vicinity, and they do the rest.”

While others have certainly stepped up – most notably wideout
Steve Smith
– Newton has accounted for 34 of Carolina’s 45 offensive touchdowns. His 14 rushing TDs are the most by a quarterback in NFL
history.

“I believe there is certainly that kind of talent in the locker where we can certainly take the next step and become a very
competitive football team (next year),” coach Ron Rivera said. “We have that ability.”

Smith, who along with center
Ryan Kalil
will represent the Panthers at the Pro Bowl, is four receptions away from surpassing Muhsin Muhammad’s team record of 696.

Carolina has dropped three straight in this series, but will look to take another step in the right direction with a win Sunday
– no matter who the Saints have under center.

“Either way, New Orleans is going to have to win, so they’re going to have to play and play hard. We’re going to show up and
play as hard as we can, too,” Rivera said. “You want their best shot. You want to give your best shot and you want to take
their best shot.”

The Panthers found themselves on the verge of victory Oct. 9 but suffered a 30-27 defeat after Brees found
Pierre Thomas
for a six-yard touchdown with 50 seconds remaining.

The Saints, who have won all seven games at the Superdome this season, have never gone 8-0 at home.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

The New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers today at noon at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The game will be televised by Fox and broadcast by WWL-870 and 105.3.

Coaches: Sean Payton (61-34 regular season; 4-2 postseason in six seasons, all with the Saints), Ron Rivera (6-9 in first season with Panthers)

TV: Fox-8; Joe Buck play-by-play, Troy Aikman color.

Radio: WWL-870, 105.3.

KEEP AN EYE ON

PANTHERS QB CAM NEWTON

Well, duh, but according to Saints defenders, Newton is a rare, complete package. First, he can run (14 rushing touchdowns this season). “Normally there are a lot of plays where, on defense, you’re 11 going on 10 because you don’t have to account for the quarterback,” linebacker Scott Shanle said. “That’s not the case here. It’s almost like he creates another gap.” In the example Shanle cited, an old school run has the fullback leading a halfback through the hole. One linebacker takes on the fullback, another makes the tackle. But the Panthers can line up their fullback like a wingback and, when the defense adjusts to account for that, the unit is a man short if Newton runs off a play-action fake. In the passing game, Newton’s howitzer arm creates problems. Even in the NFL, many quarterbacks can’t make all the throws once they break containment, safety Malcolm Jenkins said. That means in most games, safeties can cheat, give up on receivers on the far side and collapse the field toward the quarterback. But because Newton can make the deep throw back across, Jenkins said the secondary has to hold its ground even when Newton is on the move, which creates more space for Newton to exploit once he crosses the line of scrimmage and makes it more likely defenders Newton does encounter have to take him on one on one. And if there is another thing that sets Newton apart, Shanle and Jenkins both said, it is his size. At 6 feet 5, 248 pounds, Newton is an intimidating and difficult man to tackle.

PANTHERS WR STEVE SMITH

This is partly a football judgment, because Smith is a very good receiver who has hurt the Saints in the past. He has eight touchdown catches against New Orleans in his career. During his 11 years in the NFL, Smith has averaged better than six yards after the catch, and New Orleans comes into the game allowing the highest yards after the catch in the NFL. Smith credits rookie quarterback Cam Newton with rejuvenating what appeared to be a career in embers, and Smith, an 11-year veteran, has enjoyed a Pro Bowl season with 73 catches for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. But what will also bear close watching today is Smith’s relationship with the New Orleans secondary because Smith got a nice chunk of his 2011 statistics — along with a post-TD end zone smash — when the Saints visited Charlotte, N.C. In that game, Smith had three catches for 79 yards, 54 of which came on a scoring grab that ended with him sauntering in the end zone and taking a blind side late hit from safety Roman Harper. Harper absorbed a $15,000 fine from the league for his message, and Smith is known to be a brash, outspoken sort of player. Taking the safe route, perhaps, Coach Sean Payton and several players insist that sort of thing rarely carries over even though some tension has always existed between Smith and the Saints since they play each other often as division rivals. As might be expected, Payton had nothing but high praise for Smith, whom he coached in the Pro Bowl after the 2006 season. In particular, Payton said that setting gives insight into the things a player brings to the game that don’t show up on tape, and Smith’s dedication and superb conditioning are what make him “explosive” to this day.

KEY MATCHUP

SAINTS S ROMAN HARPER vs.

CAROLINA TEs JEREMY SHOCKEY and GREG OLSEN

Carolina will rely on its ground attack — the Panthers are on the cusp of becoming the first team in NFL history with three players rushing for more than 700 yards in a season — but the reliable tight end tandem has proved the rookie quarterback’s best friend. Olsen, acquired in an off-season trade with the Bears, is second on the team with 45 catches for 540 yards and five scores. Shockey, the former Saint, carries a streak of 135 regular-season games played with a reception and has caught 34 passes for 437 yards and four touchdowns. Twice this year, most recently against the Falcons on Dec. 11, each has caught a touchdown pass in a game. Though he will have help, Harper is likely to be the main defender on the pair. “I wouldn’t say, ‘old times,’” Harper laughed when asked about playing Shockey. “Shock’s always good to go up against, he’s always teaching me stuff when he was here, and I still use a lot of those tactics today. So it’s always a fun matchup with him because he talks and he’s, he’s just Shockey. Olsen is also a very talented guy. I think Olsen is younger so he probably runs a little bit better than Shockey does now, that’s just downfieldwise. But I would also say Shockey is a little bit more savvy in his routes and doing some things like that. They’re both big and can run. So you look at them and there’s not a lot that’s different, and you have to respect both of their games.”

BY THE NUMBERS

17-16 – Panthers lead all-time vs. New Orleans. 3-0 – Saints’ active win streak against Carolina. 32 – Saints’ NFL rank in surrendering yards after catch. 2 – Saints’ NFL rank in yards gained after catch. 48.1 – Saints’ third-down conversion rate since 2006, best in the NFL. 56.3 – Saints’ third-down conversion rate in 2011. 4 – NFL records Brees has set and is still adding to thus far in 2011.

FROM THE COACH’S MOUTH

“There’s a lot of improvement statistically. We try to do a PowerPoint every Wednesday on the things we see with the opponent, and statistically there are a ton of areas that they’re playing better than they were the last time we played them. The last time we played them I think we were only three or four games into the season. There’s some uniqueness to what they do offensively, certainly it starts with the quarterback and his ability to hurt you with his arm and hurt you with his legs. He’s very talented. The players around him are playing exceptionally well. They’re doing a better job with the football, so there are a lot of areas where they’ve improved in, and it showed up when you look at their recent games. I think it’s a big test for us.” – Sean Payton on the Panthers.

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The Saints will play to win Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

Although they could opt to rest some starters in the regular-season finale, Coach Sean Payton said he doesn’t want to give up the Saints’ chance at the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, and he doesn’t want to mess with the momentum they’ve built during their seven-game win streak.

“We’re playing some of our best football here the last few weeks. There’s some value to that,” said Payton, who said he doesn’t plan to keep an eye on the scoreboard to see what’s happening between the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams at the same time Sunday.

The Saints need the 49ers to lose at St. Louis to have a chance at the No. 2 seed and the first-round playoff bye that comes with it. That’s obviously a long shot, because the Rams are 2-13. But as Payton reminded, the Rams beat the Saints in St. Louis in Week 8.

“I’d hate to make that decision, (then watch the 49ers lose),” Payton said. “Our league is a league where every week, any team that lines up can win. A perfect example is the team we’re talking about is a team that beat us.”

Safety Roman Harper said he’s glad the Saints are playing to win, saying he wouldn’t want to turn off the switch at this point. But he was skeptical that the Rams will be able to hold up their end of the bargain.

He said in their situation, they probably have their bags packed for the offseason already.

“If they really wanted to help us, they wouldn’t have beat us in the first place. That’s how I look at it,” Harper said. “But we really can’t worry about what St. Louis and San Francisco are doing. We can only focus on how we’re going to control Cam Newton and Steve Smith and the Panthers.”

Fearing the injury bug

If Payton had any hesitation about playing his starters this week, it’s because of what the Saints experienced firsthand in Week 17 last season.

The Saints were in the same position, needing a victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons to lose to a struggling Carolina Panthers team in the final week to have a shot at the No. 1 seed. So the Saints played their starters, and they lost three key players to injuries in the first half — tight end Jimmy Graham, safety Malcolm Jenkins and tailback Chris Ivory — before losing the game.

All three players missed the playoff opener at Seattle the next week, which the Saints also lost. And Payton later said that playing his starters in Week 17 was one of his greatest regrets of the season.

Payton said this season is different, though, because the team is well-rested after a Week 10 bye. And, he said, “knock on wood, we’re healthy.”

Quarterback Drew Brees agreed with Payton’s decision to go all-out this week, saying it didn’t work out last season when they were essentially straddling the fence.

“I think we all found ourselves scoreboard-watching a little bit as to what was happening in that other game (last season),” Brees said. “And therefore I feel like, not that we took a step back in that game, but we just didn’t progress. And our mindset is we want to continue to progress and get better. I think there’s things that serve you well in this game if you can continue to stay on the rise as you go into the playoffs, whether they’re just confidence builders or situations that come up that you fight through.

“So I think we’re taking on a little bit different mindset than we did last year at this time in a very similar situation.”

Records within reach

Payton’s decision likely would have been the same under any circumstances this season. But it would have been an awkward choice to bench Brees.

Brees broke the NFL record for passing yards in a season in dramatic fashion Monday night in front of the frenzied crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and a national-television audience. But he remains only 190 yards ahead of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, so he probably needs to add at least another 150 yards or so to secure the record.

Brees said that wasn’t the reason for the decision to play the starters this week. Neither was the team’s chase for the all-time yardage or first downs records, or Graham’s chase for the all-time receiving yardage record for tight ends, or tailback-kick returner Darren Sproles’ chase for the NFL all-purpose yardage record.

“Listen, there’s a lot of records out there that we could potentially set, break, what have you in this game,” Brees said. “I think our mindset, above and beyond that, was, ‘How do we put ourselves in the best position to play well and win in the playoffs?’”

Not that those records aren’t special.

Kudos flow in

Brees was emotional about breaking the passing record Monday night, as were his teammates, coaches, members of the organization and the fan base. He fought back tears as he addressed the team in a postgame speech, sharing the credit with everyone from his receivers to the equipment managers. And he even went out and celebrated with teammates after the game, not part of his usual routine.

“I figure life is too short. You have to appreciate these moments,” said Brees, who figured he received hundreds of phone messages, texts and emails from friends, family and heroes of his own.

One of them, he said, was a hilarious message from Metairie-born entertainer Ellen DeGeneres, who suggested that her coaching and advice had paid off during her visit to the team’s training camp practices in Oxnard, Calif.

Another came from the former record-holder, Dan Marino, whose mark of 5,084 yards had stood since 1984.

“Dan Marino called me yesterday and we talked for a little bit, and that was obviously a very classy move on his part to reach out and tell me congratulations,” Brees said. “We talked for a while. Obviously I have a ton of respect for him, not only what he accomplished as a player, but the way he has handled this whole situation. I heard from him last week saying he was rooting for me.”

Although Brees had tried to compartmentalize his emotions during the record chase, he said he also tried to prepare for what the moment would be like — especially in case it happened during a tense moment in the game.

That wasn’t the case in the Saints’ 45-16 rout of the Falcons, though it did come down to a late drive in the fourth quarter.

“Mid-fourth quarter we felt like the game was in hand, but the record was still out there,” Brees said. “It was obviously important to a lot of people, I know everybody in that stadium and everybody watching, that we did it that night and in the fashion we did it. But I guess the moment itself was surreal. You still kind of pinch yourself that it really happened. But maybe just because we’re so locked in with where we’re at and what we still have to accomplish.

“It’s not necessarily time to reflect. We can do that after the season. We’re thinking about what’s ahead.”

••••••••

Mike Triplett can be reached at mtriplett@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3405.

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With the 2011 NFL football season winding down, it now becomes time for fans of non-playoff teams to start thinking about “next year” once again. The Carolina Panthers were recently picked by ESPN writer John Clayton to move on to the playoffs in 2012 and I am inclined to agree with him. It is easy to see why after the huge strides this team made in the second part of the season. As a Carolina Panthers fan myself, I have to say that I feel very good about their chances in 2012. I have my reasons and none of them are because I am jaded by my favorite team. They are solid, reasonable arguments.

Cam Newton and his band of merry men

Cam Newton is not going to be sneaking up on anyone in 2012, but that has not stopped him in the second half of 2011 either. Cam Newton has answered the bell and actually gotten better as a quarterback in the second part of the season. He has even seemingly found out the combination for winning is not necessarily through his arm and huge numbers passing. Not only that, the Panthers as a team have bought into this whole winning thing. Go back and watch their body language during the last several games and you will see what I mean. They expect to win.

An improved and experienced receiving group

The Panthers will head into the 2012 season with a nice batch of weapons to throw to for a change. What was once a huge weakness has now become a bit of a strength for many reasons. The main reasons are the reemergence of Steve Smith, the blossoming of Brandon LaFell and the return of David Gettis. Add in some Greg Olsen and possibly Jeremy Shockey, and you have the makings of a great group of pass catchers. Even if the Panthers stand pat, they should be just fine in this area.

A confident coaching staff and system to believe in

Coming into the 2011 season, the Panthers had no idea what to expect from their coaching staff. Ron Rivera was a bit of an unknown commodity, and his men were going to turn the offense and defense upside down. After a great offensive year, Chudzinski has solidified his value. The defense still needs work, but that is what the draft, free agency and an off season are there for. When you bring the injured starters back to the table, the Panthers are a pretty good defensive group too. Coming into the season, many thought the defense would be their strength.

*Southern is a huge NFL and Carolina Panthers football fan that has followed the team since the very beginning. He still thinks that Tom Brady is the enemy and that Steve Smith will win a Super Bowl before it is said and done.

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The Carolina Panthers are on quite the roll lately. During week seventeen, they will face a team that is on an even bigger roll in the New Orleans Saints. The Saints have locked up their playoff position at number three, and can only get better with a win and San Francisco 49ers loss to the Rams. Since the loss to the Rams is not likely at all, the Saints are acting like they are considering benching Drew Brees for safety precautions. While this is possible, it is not remotely likely. That decision will have a direct bearing on how the Panthers play their game.

A record could get in the way of Brees sitting

No matter how much the Saints say that the single season passing record now owned by Brees will play no bearing on whether he plays or not, I don’t believe it. Brees is only just under 200 yards ahead of Tom Brady with one game left and Brady is playing for sure. I can’t imagine Brees or Sean Payton allowing that record to slip out of New Orleans under any circumstances. Drew Brees will play in this game.

Can Cam Newton and the Panthers keep up with the Saints?

Cam Newton and the Panthers already have. In their first match up with the Saints, the Panthers took them down to the limit, and that was before the offense gelled like they have the last several weeks. Now the Panthers are a well-oiled machine that can realistically be expected to give the Saints fits at full strength. If the Saints go without Brees and rest players, this game will likely be a fairly easy win for the Panthers. Payton will not want to head into the playoffs on a loss like that.

Final Prediction

Call it the Panthers fan in me, but I think the Panthers will beat the Saints regardless of whether Brees is in the lineup or not. If Brees is out, that is a clear win for the Panthers. If Brees plays, then it will be game on for round two. Cam Newton and the Panthers versus Drew Brees and the Saints was awesome the first time around and it would be again. I think that Brees will play, and the Panthers will send a message to them for the next season.

The Carolina Panthers are about to become very relevant once again.

*Southern is a huge NFL and Carolina Panthers football fan that has followed the team since the very beginning. He still thinks that Tom Brady is the enemy and that Cam Newton and Steve Smith will win a Super Bowl before it is said and done.

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There is the quick update of the day.

Christmas came early for the red-hot Carolina Panthers offense in Week 16.

After starting the season 2-8, the young, injury-ravaged Carolina Panthers have caught fire late in the season, winning three of their last four games as they welcomed NFC South rival Tampa Bay to Bank of America Stadium on Christmas Eve. The smoking hot Carolina offense entered the game averaging 30.2 points over the last five games and must have viewed the struggling Tampa Bay defense as an early Christmas present. Santa made an early visit to Charlotte as the Panthers destroyed the Buccaneers 48-16.

On a personal note, I attended this game with my ten-year-old son and had a memorable day with him as we witnessed history being made as Cam Newton broke the rookie passing record and Brandon LaFell scored the longest touchdown in Panthers history. You can read my more personal, less analytical account by clicking here if you are so inclined.

While the NFL post game shows cover the scoring plays, I look for the less visible but equally crucial plays that sustain drives, spring the big plays, or change momentum. Here is my analysis, as a Panthers fan, of these key plays, both good (“The Gamers”) and bad (“The Lamers”) that took place during Carolina’s Week 15 road victory against the Houston Texans.

1st Quarter

10:17, Jordan Gross, T – Gamer. Score tied 0-0, CAR ball on TB 8. On 1st-and-Goal Cam Newton lined up under center and handed off to DeAngelo Williams to the left. LT Jordan Gross got into the second level of the defense on his block, forcing LB Geno Hayes to swing wide and out of position, then Gross sealed LB Quincy Black. Gross eliminated two linebackers as DeAngelo went eight yards untouched into the end zone, giving Carolina an early 7-0 lead.

10:01, James Anderson, LB – Gamer. Panthers lead 7-0, TB ball on TB 17. On the Bucs first play from scrimmage, QB Josh Freeman and RB LeGarrette Blount had a bad handoff exchange and fumbled. LB James Anderson shot through the crowd and recovered the fumble, setting up the Panthers for a field goal and a 10-0 lead.

6:07, Greg Hardy, DE – Lamer. Panthers lead 10-0, TB ball on TB 40. Tampa Bay faced a 3rd-and-2. DE Greg Hardy tried to anticipate the snap but instead jumped offside, giving the Bucs a first down on a drive that ended with a Tampa Bay touchdown, trimming the Panthers lead to 10-7.

2nd Quarter

13:20, Jonathan Stewart, RB and Steve Smith, WR – Gamers. Panthers lead 10-7, CAR ball on CAR 9. On 2nd-and-9 Cam Newton lined up in shotgun near his own end zone with Jonathan Stewart to his left. Tampa Bay blitzed safety Sean Jones up the middle and Stewart picked up the blitz with a solid block, allowing Newton to stand in the pocket. Newton fired a deep slant to Brandon LaFell. LaFell made a great leaping catch and began sprinting toward the end zone with three Bucs defenders in pursuit – Ronde Barber, Tanard Jackson, and E.J. Biggers. Fellow WR Steve Smith became a blocker for LaFell, cutting in front of Barber and Jackson, causing them to slow down, then Smith put a block on Biggers. Brandon LaFell took the ball 91-yards to the house for the longest touchdown in Panthers history and a 17-7 Panthers lead.

6:21, Antwan Applewhite, DE – Gamer. Panthers lead 17-7, TB ball on CAR 27. Tampa Bay faced a 3rd-and-7 nearing the red zone. Josh Freeman lined up in shotgun and dropped to pass. DE Antwan Applewhite faked a rush then dropped into zone coverage in the middle. Freeman was nearly sacked but managed to flip a pass to Sammie Stroughter. Applewhite closed on Stroughter and dropped him after a three-yard gain, forcing a fourth down and a Tampa Bay field goal, trimming the Carolina lead to 17-10.

4:31, Jordan Gross, T and Steve Smith, WR – Gamers. Panthers lead 17-10, CAR ball on CAR 34. On second down Cam Newton lined up in shotgun with Jonathan Stewart to his right. Newton handed off to Stewart who went off left tackle where Jordan Gross forced DE Adrian Clayborn wide, opening a large hole. Steve Smith was lined up wide left and sustained a strong block on E.J. Biggers, eliminating him from the play as Stewart broke a tackle and rumbled 32 yards. The long play was key in setting up the Panthers for a field goal to end the half, pushing the Carolina lead to 20-10.

3rd Quarter

12:01, Brandon LaFell, WR – Gamer. Panthers lead 20-10, CAR ball on TB 22. Nearing the red zone Cam Newton lined up in a short shotgun with Jonathan Stewart to his right and DeAngelo Williams behind him. Newton faked a handoff to Stewart and ran an option right with Williams. After making a blitzing safety commit, Newton lateraled to Williams down the right sideline. Brandon LaFell was split wide right and sustained a solid block on the cornerback, creating a lane for Williams to run untouched for a 22-yard touchdown and a 27-10 Panthers lead.

7:16, Andre Neblett, DT – Gamer. Panthers lead 27-10, TB ball on TB 48. On 1st-and-10 the Bucs got tricky as Josh Freeman handed off to WR Michael Spurlock who was coming in motion from right to left. Spurlock threw the ball back to Freeman who then hit Kellen Winslow down the right sideline. Winslow leaped and hurdled safety Sherrod Martin but Winslow fumbled. The fumble was recovered 26-yards down field by a hustling DT Andre Neblett who never gave up on pursuing the play. The Panthers scored on the next drive on a screen pass to Jonathan Stewart, pushing the lead to 34-10.

1:19, Greg Hardy, DE and Andre Neblett DT. Panthers lead 34-10, TB ball on CAR 44. Facing 4th-and-1, Tampa Bay went for it. Josh Freeman lined up in shotgun. DE Greg Hardy executed a nice spin move, shedding his blocker and collapsing the pocket, forcing Freeman to his left. DT Andre Neblett swung wide and pressured Freeman, forcing an incompletion and a Tampa Bay turnover on downs.

:33, Cam Newton, QB – Gamer. Panthers lead 34-10, CAR ball on TB 49. On 2nd-and-4 Cam Newton lined up in shotgun with Jonathan Stewart to his left. Newton faked the handoff to Stewart and ran through a gaping hole off the right guard. Cam absolutely juked safety Tanard Jackson in the open field and Jackson failed to even get a hand on Newton. CB E.J. Bigger had a good angle and hit Newton at the 10-yard line, but Cam delivered a strong stiff arm and dragged Biggers into the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown and 41-10 Panthers lead.

:17, Jason Williams, LB – Gamer. Panthers lead 41-10, TB Kickoff Return. Special teamer Jason Williams flew down the field to cover a Carolina kickoff and nailed kick returner Sammie Stroughter with a hard tackle about ten yards out of the end zone. Williams forced Stroughter to fumble and the ball was recovered by Carolina deep within Tampa Bay territory, setting up a Jeremy Shockey touchdown two plays later as the Panthers pushed the lead to 48-10.

4th Quarter

11:11, Greg Hardy, DE – Gamer. Panthers lead 48-16, TB ball for Two-Point Conversion. After a Josh Freeman 1-yard touchdown lunge, Tampa Bay lined up for a two-point conversion. Freeman went shotgun, took the snap, and looked to his right. DE Greg Hardy blew past tackle Donald Penn and came from Freeman’s blindside, strip-sacking the Bucs quarterbak and preventing the two-point conversion.

4:33, Jason Shirley, DT – Gamer. Panthers lead 48-16, TB ball on CAR 36. With the game all but over, Josh Freeman dropped back to pass. DT Jason Shirley executed a nice spin move, shedding his blocker and leaving the offensive lineman on the ground. Shirley sacked Freeman and continues to make the most of his opportunity to prove himself in light of the rash of injuries to the defensive line.

The surging Carolina Panthers now stand at 6-9 and have won four of their last five, giving fans an early Christmas present. Just as children often dream about Christmas presents, Panthers fans like me are dreaming about a healthy squad next year, with visions of Jon Beason, Thomas Davis, Ron Edwards, Jeff Otah, Geoff Schwartz, and David Gettis dancing in our heads.

If the Panthers current momentum can be coupled with better health in 2012, look for the Panthers to make a become one of the surprise teams next season.

Andrew Sweat is a North Carolina resident and loyal Panthers fan. More from this author:

‘Gamers & Lamers’ – Week 15 vs. Houston

The Curse of the Carolina Panthers DT Strikes Again!

Top Five Crazy-But-True Carolina Panthers Stats

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

I witnessed history sitting in Section 234 of Bank of America Stadium on Christmas Eve as the Carolina Panthers destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-16 in one of the most entertaining games I have ever attended.

Sitting to my right was my ten-year-old son as we shared a father-son bonding moment that will remain with both of us for the rest of our lives – or at least until I go senile or my son gets a concussion as a teenager one day doing something insane involving a skateboard, bike, or motorcycle. Sitting behind us was a funny, feisty, vocal grandmother who could have easily been a Tyler Perry character. In front of us was one very, very dejected Bucs fan. Together, we witnessed history.

1. Cam Newton’s Record-Setting Day

I stood and cheered a loud, “Caaaammmmm!!!” after the Panthers quarterback completed a short pass in the first quarter and the PA announcer informed the fans that Cam Newton had just set the new single-season rookie passing records, surpassing Peyton Manning’s previous mark. The on-field action was paused for a moment to recognize the milestone. Cam was pretty ho-hum about the whole thing, but those of us at Bank of America Stadium cheered loudly to make sure the Panthers young quarterback understood just how much we appreciate the hope he has infused into the franchise. I leaned over to my son and said, “I can’t believe we get to watch this guy for the next twelve years.”

2. Brandon LaFell’s Record-Setting Catch

The Panthers were backed up to the Caroline nine yard line, near the end zone by my section of the stadium. Cam Newton dropped back to pass and threw deep over the middle for wide receiver Brandon LaFell. LaFell leaped to make the catch then turned on the afterburners, streaking for a Panthers record 91-yard touchdown. The long play was awesome. It was even more meaningful for me because Brandon LaFell is one of my son’s favorite Panthers players. When my son and I play catch in the front yard, he usually pretends he is Brandon LaFell, so we reacted like the “Nintendo Sixty Foooouuurrrr!” kid when LaFell scored on the long touchdown.

3. My Stomach’s Record-Setting Performance

I ordered the nachos with extra cheese and jalapenos during halftime. The “cheese” was probably not FDA approved and had the consistency of Silly Putty. But I was hungry and it was the best option, and my digestive system responded like an All-Pro.

4. The Distrust of Olindo Mare

The vibe I picked up from the rest of the fans in the crowd is that struggling kicker Olindo Mare is about as trusted as Bernie Madoff. I have previously written about Mare’s statistically disastrous season. When Carolina faced a 4th-and-1 from the Tampa Bay 1 just before halftime, nearly everybody in the stands yelled, “Goooooooo!” When Olindo Mare trotted onto the field there was an audible sigh from the crowd. The Tyler Perry-esque grandma sitting behind me exclaimed, “Oh Lord, let us pray!” as Mare lined up for the chip shot field goal. It’s never good when divine intervention must be invoked for a professional kicker to make 19-yarder.

5. Bonding With My Son

Few things in life bring fathers and sons together like sports. My son is in the fifth grade and I assistant coach is basketball team. We play football together in the front yard. He plays in my fantasy football league and will likely finish third in a competitive 12-team league. My son and I have a close relationship and sports will always be something we share together. While it was great to see the Panthers win, Cam Newton break records, and Brandon LaFell’s run to daylight, none of that compared with the special opportunity this game gave me to just enjoy a day alone with my son. At ten years old he is old enough and knows enough about football to appreciate the game, but he is still just young enough to be awe-struck by a big stadium and start-struck by NFL players. The smile on his face was the best early Christmas present I could have asked for.

Andrew Sweat is a North Carolina resident and loyal Panthers fan. More from this author:

‘Gamers & Lamers’ in Panthers vs. Texans

The Curse of the Carolina Panthers DT Strikes Again!

Top Five Crazy-But-True Carolina Panthers Stats

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

There is the quick update of the day.

Read More: Cam Newton (QB – CAR), Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers QB Cam Newton wrapped up fantasy football championship week with another dominant performance as his Panthers destroyed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Newton finished the game with only 171 passing yards, but he also threw three touchdowns and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown. In most leagues, that amounts to approximately 31 points. Not too shabby.

Cam Newton has burst on the scene like nobody’s business this season. The rookie QB had plenty of doubters heading into the season but he has shown he can make plays at the NFL level. His Panthers are 6-9, which is light years ahead of their 2-14 squad last season. And much of that is due to Cam Newton.

Most fantasy football leagues are wrapping up for the season and we can start to look ahead to the 2012 NFL season for fantasy football purposes. Cam Newton’s draft placement will be one of the biggest discussions when we hit the summer. There will be leagues where someone jumps on Newton in the first round, and there might be leagues where he slides a round or two. It depends on how people trust him heading into what some view as the trap of a possible sophomore slump. He has proven doubters wrong, so we’ll see if he can do it next year.

For more on the Panthers, check out Cat Scratch Reader. For more on fantasy football, check out Fake Teams. Follow @sbnationfantasy on Twitter.

Thanks for visiting our blog =).

Cam Newton
is all but certain to break the NFL’s all-time rookie record for passing yards Saturday against the woeful
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at Bank of America Stadium.

While he certainly understands the magnitude of that achievement, Newton – as he has been all season – is more focused on
beating his opponent.

With 3,722 passing yards, Newton is 17 away from breaking
Peyton Manning
‘s rookie record set in 1998. The No. 1 overall pick in the draft, however, has other things on his mind.

“We got an excellent game plan to be successful against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
,” he said. “We need this win, it would be an early Christmas gift on Christmas Eve. I’m more worried about the win column
rather than individualistic stats.

“The big goal is to win the game.”

While much has been made about Newton’s eye-popping numbers, his impressive early season stats didn’t lead to much success.
Newton averaged 288.5 passing yards and threw for 12 TDs through 10 games, but he also had 16 turnovers as Carolina started
2-8. He’s since led the Panthers (5-9) to three wins in four games, averaging 209.3 yards through the air while throwing for
five TDs with only two turnovers.

Newton didn’t commit one Sunday as he completed 13 of 23 passes for 149 yards and two scores in a 28-13 victory at Houston.
He’s thrown 16 interceptions during the team’s losses and zero in its wins.

“I think that’s the key to success for the
Carolina Panthers
offensively,” he said. “I look at other quarterbacks across the league and when they do a good job of protecting the football
that’s just the key to the win.

“If you wanna be an elite player, you’re gonna have to do something different. You have to be consistent. I don’t think I’m
consistent enough, I can be more consistent.”

He’s certainly been consistently good running the ball, averaging 50.2 rushing yards over the past eight games and 6.0 per
carry. Newton’s 609 rushing yards are one shy of
Tim Tebow
for the NFL lead among quarterbacks.

The Buccaneers (4-10), whose current eight-game skid is their longest in 24 years, know all too well about Newton’s tremendous
ability.

His three most recent rushing TDs all came in a 38-19 rout of Tampa on Dec. 4, as he broke Steve Grogan’s single-season league
record by a quarterback – set in 1976. Newton’s 13 scores on the round are second in the league to Philadelphia’s
LeSean McCoy
(17).

With the playoffs out of the picture, the Panthers are starting to turn their attention to next season, and have plenty to
be excited about given their recent efforts.

“Some people may say that we aren’t playing for anything,” four-time Pro Bowl wideout
Steve Smith
told the team’s official website. “But we are playing for the next two Sundays and then the first Sunday in September.”

Smith needs five receptions to pass Muhsin Muhammad’s 696 for the most in franchise history. His chances of doing so may have
improved with the Buccaneers placing cornerback
Aqib Talib
on injured reserve Monday with a hamstring injury that kept him out for most of the past three games.

Tampa Bay opened 4-2 and looked headed for a successful campaign before suddenly finding itself in a state of flux. The Buccaneers,
who haven’t lost nine in a row since Sept. 8-Nov. 3, 1985, have been outscored 256-134 during their skid while turning the
ball over an NFL-worst 24 times since Oct. 23.

“It’s hard to make those excuses right now. I won’t do that. Anything you say about talent level, it makes an excuse for yourself,”
coach Raheem Morris said. “We’ve got to go out and do a better job coaching. We have to go out and do a better job playing.
We’ve got to go out there and do a better job getting it done.”

The Buccaneers allowed 28 unanswered points in the first half of last Saturday’s 31-15 loss to Dallas.
Josh Freeman
threw for a season-low 148 yards – the third straight game he failed to crack 200 – and lost a key fumble.

“It’s the National Football League. You have to take some pride in what you are doing, take some pride in being a Buccaneer,”
he said. “If nothing else, do it for your teammates, do it for your coaches.”

Tampa Bay, which ranks 30th in the league with an average of 141.1 rushing yards allowed, is sure to have a hard time slowing
down a Panthers team that’s compiled 171.8 yards per game on the ground over its 3-1 run.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

Turnover problems continued to plague the Buccaneers on Saturday as four more — three lost fumbles and an interception — led to 24 points and helped the Carolina Panthers rout Tampa Bay 48-16.

It was the ninth consecutive loss for the Bucs, who fell to 4-11 on the season after starting 4-2.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, wasted little time setting the NFL’s rookie passing-yards record, surpassing Peyton Manning. He drove Carolina 80 yards in nine plays for an early 7-0 lead. The running back tandem of Jonathan Stewart (22 rushing yards) and DeAngelo Williams (24 rushing yards, 8-yard reception) kept the drive moving almost unabated, with Williams covering the final 8 yards on a run up the middle.

It didn’t get any better for the Bucs.

On Tampa Bay’s first play from scrimmage, running back LeGarrette Blount’s fumble problems returned. He lost the ball before hitting the line of scrimmage, with Carolina’s James Anderson recovering at the Tampa Bay 8-yard line. The Bucs defense held, forcing the Panthers to settle for Olindo Mare’s 21-yard field goal that put Carolina ahead 10-0 before the Bucs had run their second offensive play of the game.

The Bucs benched Blount after the fumble, and backup Kregg Lumpkin sparked an impressive 15-play scoring drive. Lumpkin gained 21 rushing yards in the 80-yard march, and quarterback Josh Freeman completed passes of 13 and 8 yards to Kellen Winslow and 16 to Preston Parker, all good for first downs. Freeman finished the drive with a 4-yard scoring pass to Arrelious Benn in the left corner of the end zone.

But that momentum didn’t last long. On Carolina’s second play of its ensuing drive, Newton, under pressure, hit Brandon LaFell behind Tampa Bay’s E.J. Biggers, and the second-year receiver sprinted untouched for a 91-yard touchdown play. The score extended Carolina’s lead to 17-7 with 13:06 left in the second quarter.

Freeman looked impressive on the Bucs’ next possession, completing 7 of 7 passes for 76 yards, including a 29-yarder to Sammie Stroughter. Freeman overcame a sack early in the drive but not another offensive pass interference call against Winslow that stalled the drive at the Carolina 24. Connor Barth connected from 42 yards to pull Tampa Bay within 17-10 with 5:33 left in the half.

But again the Bucs defense couldn’t hold, allowing the Panthers to score on their fourth consecutive drive of the half. Stewart did most of the damage with runs of 32 and 24 yards, the latter to the Bucs’ 20. Newton hit Williams for 10 yards and got as close as the Bucs’ 1, but Carolina settled for Mare’s 19-yard field goal just before halftime.

Tampa Bay’s second turnover — a Freeman pass intended for Winslow that was intercepted by Carolina’s Jonathan Nelson at the Bucs’ 32 — led to more Panthers points. Three plays into the drive, Williams took a pitch to the right side and sliced through the Bucs defense for a 22-yard touchdown and a 27-10 Carolina lead.

What started as a promising razzle-dazzle play for the Bucs turned into another turnover and eventually another Carolina touchdown. Freeman handed the ball to Micheal Spurlock, who threw back to Freeman, who hit a wide-open Winslow for a 24-yard gain. But Winslow fumbled as he tried to hurdle a defender, and the Panthers recovered at their 39. Steve Smith picked up 23 yards on a reverse, Williams added a 18 on a run, and facing fourth and 1 at the Tampa Bay 11, Newton hit Stewart for the touchdown and a 34-10 advantage.

After stopping the Bucs on fourth and 1 and their 45, Carolina needed just two plays to score again. Newton completed a short pass to Jeremy Shockey, then ran 49 yards on a quarterback draw through the middle of the Bucs defense for his 14th rushing touchdown of the season and a 41-10 Panthers lead.

Stroughter fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and again the Panthers recovered and capitalized. Starting at the Bucs’ 8, Newton found Shockey in the left flat for the touchdown and a 48-10 lead one play into the final quarter.

The Bucs put together a meaningless touchdown drive on their next possession. Freeman passes of 15 and 13 yards to Lumpkin and a 25-yard pass interference call against the Panthers aided the drive. Freeman covered the final yard on a quarterback sneak with 11:08 left in the game.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

The Carolina Panthers will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Dec. 24^th. Carolina will look to continue its strong end of season run, as the Bucs will look to end their eight-game losing streak. Here are some keys for a Panthers victory.

Attack The Buccaneers Defense

The Bucs defense ranks 26^th and 30^th in passing and rushing yards allowed. The Panthers who rank 10th and 5^th in passing and rushing should be able to have their way against Tampa’s defense. Carolina also has two players poised to break records. With 17 more passing yards Cam Newton will break Peyton Manning’s rookie record for passing yards, which he set in 1998. Also, Steve Smith is on the verge of breaking Mushin Muhammed’s record of most receptions in franchise history. Smith needs five more to do it. Carolina has also averaged 171.8 yards per game over the last four games. The combination of Newton, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart don’t look like slowing down either. The rushing attack should be able to control the game for the Panthers and open up space down the field for Smith and the other Carolina receivers.

Contain LaGarrette Blount

The Buccaneers rushing attack hasn’t been very good all season, averaging 97.4 yards per game. However, other struggling rushers have found success against the Panthers, although the defense has been better of late. The Buccaneers will no doubt want to get Blount going early and try to set their tempo in the game. The Panthers need to get after him early and if the Panthers can get a few early scores, the Buccaneers will have to focus on their passing attack, which has struggled to eclipse 200 yards the last three games.

Don’t Commit Turnovers

For the Panthers it is a plain and simple winning formula. If they don’t turn the ball over they’ll win. Newton has 16 interceptions in losses and zero in Carolina wins. If Newton and the offense can protect the ball, they should be able to put up points against a struggling defense. However, if they fail to protect the ball, it could give Tampa Bay momentum and a short field to build a lead. Giving a struggling team opportunities is not what the Panthers will want to do and I don’t believe they will.

*All stats found on espn.com

Although living several hundred miles from Charlotte, Matthew Levine bleeds Carolina blue. He has followed the Panthers since their inaugural season in 1995 and was absolutely heart-broken over the 2003 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.