EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera warned his players coming off their bye weekend about not overlooking the New York Jets in anticipation of an NFC South showdown against New Orleans.
Rivera said he believed in “trap games.’’
The Panthers had one foot in the trap early in the fourth quarter.
In stepped middle linebacker Luke Kuechly and special teams to save quarterback Cam Newton and the offense from a disastrous day.
Kuechly returned a fumble 34-yards for a touchdown and then Kaelin Clay returned a punt 60-yards for another score to turn an early fourth-quarter deficit into a 35-27 victory at MetLife Stadium.