SEATTLE – Sunday’s game at Seattle was supposed to be the gauge to determine whether the Carolina Panthers were a legitimate threat in the NFC or a product of an easy schedule.
They proved to be legit.
Quarterback Cam Newton finally made the play he hasn’t been able to in four previous losses to the two-time defending NFC champions, throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen with 32 seconds left.
Newton overcame two interceptions and a bad throw on a fourth-and-inches bootleg late in the first half to go from potential goat to hero.