There was a lot of talk Sunday about ugly wins, bailouts and surviving and advancing in the run-up to playoff football.
And while it’s true the Carolina Panthers were able to turn back the New York Jets 35-27 on a gray, coldish day at an outdoor stadium against a middling team, Cam Newton’s 168-yard passing performance won’t be enough next week in a climate-controlled dome against a New Orleans Saints team that entered the weekend with the league’s top-ranked offense.
“Call it whatever you want – a bye-week hangover, whatever. We got a win,” Panthers tight end Ed Dickson said.