Prior to the 6:40 p.m. kickoff, Newton was spotted wearing some pretty snazzy cleats with a logo of his initials on the top, as well as the names of his Panthers teammates written all over both shoes.
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Cornerback Patrick Peterson, only the second player in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons, was the unlikely culprit for the Cardinals. “It’s a question you got to ask: Why not us?” Cam Newton rolled out to his right and pitched the ball to Ginn, who raced around left end, then switched fields and outran defenders to the end zone. Problem was, in Year 3, he managed 38 receptions for 454 yards, was plagued by drops, criticized for avoiding contact and shipped to San Francisco for a fifth-round pick. But Johnson couldn’t drag him down, spring Brown free for an 86-yard touchdown that pushed Carolina’s lead to 17-0.
– Ted Ginn Jr., Panthers, had a 32-yard punt return to set up Carolina’s first touchdown – a 22-yard run by Ginn – in a 49-15 win against Arizona.
Can the Broncos match that kind of offensive firepower now that Peyton Manning is staring down retirement? “We came out here and fought our tails off, and we did what a lot of people said we couldn’t do”. “And like I said, I put us in that hole”.
And while the Broncos’ defense carried it past New England 20-18 for the AFC crown, Carolina’s D was just as destructive.
The Cardinals started off the second quarter just as rough as they did the first when Carson Palmer was sacked by Kawann Short and fumbled the football into the hands of line back Luke Kuechly.
Ginn caught two passes for 52 yards and set up his own electrifying 22-yard touchdown run with a nifty 32-yard punt return.
After forcing a three-and-out from the Cards, Newton led the Panthers on an eight-play, 39-yard drive for 45-yard Graham Gano field goal, 5:30 into the first quarter.
Afterward, the talk was how Ginn had come back to haunt his old team since he played for Arizona last season.
“Yes, it was personal”, Ginn said. “They sent me back out to the wolves”.
“I’ve just got to be smart in that position”, Peterson said of bumbling the punt. I just tried my hardest to go out and not stop on a play.
DISTRESSING POSTSEASON: After going 13-3 and looking like the league’s most balanced team, the Cardinals played inconsistently in outlasting the Packers in overtime in the divisional round.
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Fresh off a 49-15 defeat, general manager Steve Keim says this disappointment will fuel him heading into next season.
