CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers appear unusually confident for a team that was beaten handily in two regular-season games against New Orleans, their opponent in Sunday's wild-card game.
It begins with quarterback Cam Newton, who talked Wednesday about all the storms the team weathered this season.
"This team has been faced with a lot of adversity, and it's brought us closer together," he said. "We've faced some of the bigger wins in hostile environments. Carpe diem, living in the moment, seizing it."
Reasons to be excited: The Panthers will be as healthy as they've been all season.