After Tom Brady and the Patriots did what Tom Brady and the Patriots do, Cam Newton prepared the Panthers for what they had to do in response.
Newton and the Carolina offense had clicked all day in a way it hadn't the first three weeks and in a way it rarely has since the special season of 2015, but Brady countered. After the Panthers forged a 30-16 lead on the home field of the reigning Super Bowl champions, Brady directed the Patriots on a pair of touchdown drives to tie the score with three minutes left.
Reminiscent of a memorable game late in 2015 when the 13-0 Panthers saw a 35-7 lead to two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning dissolve, Newton confidently pumped up his teammates on the sideline after the Patriots tied it. No need to panic, no need to press.
A few dramatic plays later, much like the Giants game of lore, Graham Gano trotted out onto the field, the outcome resting at his feet. Gano came through again, this time banging through a 48-yard field goal as the clock hit zero to give the Panthers the type of victory that could propel them to another special season.
"Moving forward, this can be a jumpstart to a great thing for the season," Newton said, "or it could just be a flash in the frying pan. We're expecting great things for us as a team."
The fantastic finish was redemption for Gano, who had a PAT earlier in the half sail wide left and who saw a 50-yard field goal slide wide in a 21-20 loss at the Broncos in last year's Super Bowl rematch to open the season. But the gains for Gano are only a small part of the story.
Even if the Panthers had suffered what would have been a devastating loss Sunday, there still would have been promising signs to grasp onto once the pain (eventually) subsided. Those positives persist in victory but are trumped by a bigger takeaway: This team has its mojo back after competing – and completing - in the clutch.
The loss in Denver at the start of last season had lingering effects, and a team that went 15-1 and went to the Super Bowl in 2015 went nowhere fast in 2016. The Week 1 heartbreaker set the tone for a 6-10 campaign in which Carolina won just two of eight games decided by three points or less.
Few thought Sunday's game in Foxborough would be a nail biter – not after what happened in Week 3. The Panthers were 2-0 albeit an ugly 2-0 heading into last week's NFC South opener against an 0-2 Saints team ranked last in the NFL in defense. But the Panthers offense struggled for the third consecutive week in a spot where almost everyone thought they'd thrive, and a 34-13 loss meant that even though the Patriots took over the cellar in total defense, most fans expected more (or rather less) of the same Sunday.
What they saw instead was a breakout performance headed by Newton, who accounted for four touchdowns (three passing) after totaling three touchdowns through three games. The offensive line cleared the way, the running game included him in well-timed ways, and the passing game headed by a career day from Devin Funchess had its way with the Patriots' secondary.
Two turnovers, a missed PAT, a 58-yard field goal for New England and a typically productive day from Brady meant that for all the good, the ending could easily have been a bad one. But a third-down penalty on the Patriots, a third-down snag by Funchess and finally a special teams play saved the day.
And what a day it was. What a win it was.
The mojo is back.
Images from the Week 4 contest between Carolina and New England.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles as New England Patriots defensive end Cassius Marsh (55) gives chase during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes against the Carolina Panthers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) passes under pressure from New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, rear, tackles New England Patriots running back Mike Gillislee (35) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) tries to shake free from Carolina Panthers safety Mike Adams (29) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers running back Fozzy Whittaker runs for a touchdown after catching a pass against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) sacks New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) tries to shove away Carolina Panthers defensive back Demetrious Cox (36) after catching a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess, centercatches a touchdown pass in front of New England Patriots cornerback Eric Rowe (25) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates after throwing a touchdown pas to Devin Funchess during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) pressures New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) as he passes during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates his touchdown pass to Devin Funchess during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, right, celebrates his touchdown pass to Devin Funchess, center, during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Devin Funchess (17) catches a pass for a touchdown as New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler, rear, defends during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates his touchdown run against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, right, appeals to officials during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Carolina Panthers kicker Graham Gano, left, kicks the game-winning field goal as Michael Palardy (5) holds at the end of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. The Panthers won 33-30. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaves the field after a 33-30 victory over the New England Patriots in an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton celebrates his rushing touchdown against the New England Patriots during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers, left, forces a fumble by Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart (28) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
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