CLEVELAND – A big smile spread across Cam Newton's face earlier this week when asked what it would mean if the Carolina Panthers walked away from Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns with a victory.
“Is Santa listening?" the quarterback said.
No, but the Grinch certainly must have been.
The Panthers lost their fifth straight game in much the same way they did the previous four, failing to get off the field on third down, giving up big plays over the top and making mistakes offensively even when the opponent kept giving second chances.