Week 9: Panthers 37, Packers 29
The details
The Panthers seemed well on their way to continuing their undefeated streak, but they had to make it interesting.
Ahead by 23 points during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers, the Panthers had a late-game scare for a second consecutive week. But this time Carolina didn’t need overtime to win, instead sinking the Packers 37-29 to take firm control of the No. 1 seed in the early NFC playoff picture.
With his team down eight, reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers threw an interception on fourth down near the goal line with 1 minute, 54 seconds left. Thomas Davis made the leaping interception to seal the victory.
Quarterback Cam Newton had an up-and-down day, connecting on seven pass plays of 20 or more yards but throwing a key interception in the final three minutes, giving Green Bay (6-2) life. He finished 15-of-30 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and that interception.
“He did some really good things and had some good moments, “ Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “I promise you there’s only one throw he’d like to have back.”
They said it
“The ebbs and flows are most definitely getting to all of us. I know they are getting to me. We have to learn to finish better. We can’t make it this exciting.” – Rivera.
“We were ready to go the whole time, we just didn’t make the plays early on, so we dug ourselves a hole that was hard to get out of.” – Green Bay receiver Davante Adams.
“None of us is complacent. We have a lot to clean up. But we’re 8-0.” – Panthers safety Kurt Coleman
“Winning in the NFL is tough. You saw that (Sunday).” – Carolina tight end Greg Olsen
The weirdness
A Green Bay Packers fan had his team banner snatched down by Newton and reported the incident to police as a theft. He said he expected the Panthers to “make it right.”
As a result, the fan got angry messages, even death threats, from reporting the theft.
Mike Dobs, an Army veteran who lives in Fayetteville, said Newton ran up and snatched the banner “out of our hands” before the game against the Packers in Charlotte.
“We thought it was a joke at first, but he never came back with the banner,” Dobs said. “That’s when I went to security and told them he stole it. The first officer I talked to just laughed.”
Dobs’ banner had a green map of North Carolina with the Green Bay logo in the middle and the words “North Carolina Cheesehead,” referring to the nickname Green Bay fans give themselves.
Newton said after the game that he grabbed the banner and explained that he felt it was disrespectful to Panthers fans and their home, Bank of America Stadium.
At a news conference, Rivera referred to the incident as a “side story.” However, he said he wished Newton had not done it.
“It’s still a side story, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “It’s being taken care of. Cam’s been talked to, and we are reaching out to the other party. That’s where we are.”
Hot takes
Tom Sorensen: The Carolina Panthers did something they had not done all season. They beat a team with a winning record. They beat the Green Bay Packers, who came into Bank of America Stadium 6-1.
If you beat Seattle in Seattle, and Philadelphia and Indianapolis at home, I would contend that you did something. Beating the Packers anywhere enhances Carolina’s credibility.
But when were the Panthers not credible? You don’t stumble into 8-0. You play offense, defense and special teams, you make plays large and small, and after Sunday’s 37-29 victory against Green Bay there the Panthers are atop the NFC standings.
Adds Olsen: “And when you’re around a great group of guys in a great environment, a place where you enjoy coming to work, winning is even better.”
Joseph Person: As he turned to address the media at his locker after Sunday’s latest nerve-racker, cornerback Josh Norman spoke for Panthers fans everywhere who have lived, died and lived again with this team twice in a seven-day span.
“It’s never easy,” Norman said under his breath. “It’s never freaking easy.”
This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Week 9: Panthers 37, Packers 29."