After yet another heart-stopping Carolina Panthers victory Sunday – this one decided in the final 35 seconds on a touchdown run that quarterback Cam Newton began with a fumble – linebacker Luke Kuechly was asked to describe his team’s 22-19 victory over Tampa Bay.
“Stressful,” Kuechly said, heaving a huge sigh. “We always make it stressful.”
Yes, they do. And yet the Panthers (11-4) won again on Sunday, clinching one of the NFL’s 12 playoff spots for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
The Panthers originally picked up the nickname “Cardiac Cats” in the 2003 season, when Jake Delhomme was leading one fourth-quarter comeback after another.