Week 3: Panthers 27, Saints 22

The details

As Luke McCown’s last-minute spiral floated toward Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman and New Orleans Saints receiver Brandin Cooks in the end zone, Norman’s teammates knew how it was going to end.

They’d seen it several times before, most recently when Norman victimized Cam Newton in a similar situation.

Norman didn’t disappoint, coming down with an interception that preserved the Panthers’ 27-22 victory and 3-0 start.

If you’re scoring at home – and rest assured Norman’s accounting team is – that’s two interceptions for Norman in three games, one he returned for a touchdown to break open a Week 1 victory at Jacksonville and his beauty that sealed the victory over the Saints.

In between Norman blanketed Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins in Week 2. So yeah, Norman’s teammates felt pretty confident when McCown threw his way with the game on the line.

“The things y’all see on Sunday? We see (them) every day in practice. I’ve seen him make many plays like that,” fullback Mike Tolbert said. “So when I saw him sizing the ball up, I was like, ‘He’s about to go get it.’ ” Joseph Person

They said it

“We challenge them to be the ones to step up. As a defensive coach that’s what you want because you have confidence in those guys.” – Panthers coach Ron Rivera, on his defense’s play on the final drive.

“I saw McCown release the ball from his shoulder. It was one of those things like, ‘Ah, man, I can’t believe he did it.’ And he did. Eyes got big. I was like, ‘Man, I’m about to go get this at the highest point I can. Period.” – Josh Norman

The weirdness

Cam Newton, scrambling to his right to extend a play, was hit by Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison around the time he threw the ball.

Newton and Davison fell to the ground, and there was no flag. After the game, Newton said he was “baffled” by what official Ed Hochuli told him.

“It was close. It was right on the cusp, “ Newton said. “Was it a late hit? I don’t know. But the response that I got was, ‘Cam you’re not old enough to get that call.’ I’m looking at him like what? Jesus. I didn’t think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that.”

Team and league sources indicated there’s likely no way of finding out for sure what was said. Newton was not mic’d up by NFL Films or the Panthers’ in-house media team for the game, and no nearby microphone appears to have picked up the discussion.

Newton was not fined for criticizing an official.

And Dean Blandino, the NFL’s vice president of officiating, said on NFL Network that Hochuli denied telling Newton he was “not old enough” to get a late-hit penalty on the fourth-quarter play.

“I certainly wasn’t there, but I’ve spoken with Ed. Ed was adamant that he did not say that, “ Blandino said. “He told me that he said that, ‘The difference is you were running.’ ”

Hot take

Tom Sorensen: The Panthers blew out Jacksonville on the road by 11, handled Houston at home by seven and whipped New Orleans at home 27-22. The quarterbacks they’ve beaten are Blake Bortles (Jacksonville), Ryan Mallett (Houston) and Luke McCown (New Orleans). Carolina has won by an average of 7.6 points, if you’re keeping score at home.

So what do you think?

I think that for only the fourth time in their 21 seasons the Panthers are 3-0. They’re 3-0 because they didn’t fold or panic when they lost star linebacker Luke Kuechly to a concussion. They’re 3-0 because when there’s a play that determines the outcome, they make it.

But the Panthers do not look like a Super Bowl team.

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Week 3: Panthers 27, Saints 22."