Opening statement:

“I think we rediscovered a lot of things and that was probably the best part. We did a nice job running the ball by committee. I thought those guys came in and gave us some spark and did the best that they could. I thought Mike Shula mixed up some things as far as the offense was concerned and did a really nice job at the play calling. I thought we missed some opportunities early on in that first half. You can’t turn the ball over the way we did and expect to win football games. Fortunate enough for us we buckled down in the second half and did the things that we are capable of. Actually the drive just before the half for us on the offensive side was really good. Then coming out defensively, doing the things that we needed to do to get off the field in the second half. There were some really good things that went on. I thought Sean McDermott did a nice job with the defensive play calling. I thought he called some timely blitzes and did a nice job with that. I thought Steve Wilks and Curtis Fuller got the defensive backs to move around and disguise the coverages which I think helped us. There were a lot of good things that went on as that is concerned. I do agree it was great to see the pass rush get the chance to cut loose. Again, when you get yourself into the position when you have a lead, you get them into the second and third longs you can cut it loose and get after the quarterback.”

RE: Cam Newton going no huddle

“I thought it was great. That’s one of the things that he works on and that he does very, very well. He reacts to a lot of things and he makes a lot of good decisions when we put it in his hands like that. I think that’s something that he thrives on. Again, there were also some situations where we slowed it down for him and he made some really good decisions and put us in some good positions to score and we did score.”

RE: Having Thomas Davis back playing

“I thought as a whole, having him back on the football field was huge for us as a team because there is this energy that TD has. He ran around and made some very physical plays. Really, he is the heart and soul of what those guys are as far as our defense is concerned. So it’s important to have a guy like that on the football field for you.”

RE: Luke Kuechly’s performance

“He controlled the tempo for us. He made a lot of big hits. One thing that he was very active on was the check downs, the quick dumps off to Forte. One of the things is when Matt Forte is in the open field he is very hard to bring down as we saw. I thought he handled that nicely. He did the things we needed him to do. If he plays like that, if Thomas Davis plays like that, if our front gives us that kind of push, we have a chance to win. Why, because it makes things easier for everybody else. I thought our defensive backs did a great job being very physical at the right time.”

RE: Philly Brown’s performance

“I thought Philly showed that he has the courage to stand there and make plays. We have to help him out too now. The fumble he got, he caught the ball and got hit. We are going to look at that and the guys who are holding up got to realize that with his quick burst and his dynamic ability to pop through a hole, we just have to give him a chance. That’s not all on him. Again, we want him to catch the ball and make a move because he has that type of ability and we need to do that with him.”

RE: Takeaways today

“To come up with them late and for them to be very timely, really helped out. That’s huge. It’s amazing how the balance of the game really kind of sways with that. We are very fortunate at the end to get the Matt Forte fumble in position to give us a chance to score the game winner.”

RE: Missed field goal changed outcome of game

“I think it was a shot in the arm for us as a team that we were able to hold them, force the field goal attempt and then have them miss, especially being in the situation that we were just before the half, us going down scoring and being down 21-14, that played a very big role. I think our guys hung in there. I think they battled and did a lot of good things. I thought our coaches did a nice job with the adjustments at halftime, listening to them talk to the players about what we wanted them to do, what we needed them to do to give ourselves a chance to win. I thought the players responded very well. They took what they were told of what we were going to do and they did it. That’s probably the biggest thing.”

RE: Block by Newton

“Yes, that was exciting. I was a little concerned. But that’s him. As I tell you guys if he is going to play, he is going to play to win. He is not playing for any other thing than to win. Again, I much rather see him bluff it but again I bet it felt pretty good for him.”

RE: How it felt to win against his former team

“It felt great. It really did. It’s one of those things, again it’s like a family member. You always want to beat the family member when you are being competitive. It was good to have the opportunity. It was a great victory for us and a good victory for this football team.”

RE: Thoughts on the no huddle

“I think for us that’s been our edge on most games. When you look at us running the no huddle, it’s not us trying to run fast. It’s just trying to tempo the defense. We can’t allow the defense to pin their ears back and stay fresh on every down. I think we have as athletic offensive linemen as I’ve been around. Guys who are able to run, do this or do that, and have great endurance so we use that as our edge for each and every game. When we went into the no huddle offense it wasn’t in a panic. We’ve been in these particular situations before, whether it was with me or without me and guys responded and that’s what you want to see.”

RE: On his block against Lance Briggs

“I’ve said it numerous times. I’m not a quarterback. I’m a football player. I just happen to play quarterback. Now, in that play I knew it was a reverse. I gave the ball to the running back. He gave the ball to Philly Brown. So he’s coming around and I had to seal the edge. Now, sealing the edge entails trying to get Philly the block to let him get outside. As I turned around, I looked. I said, ‘oh a cornerback, that’ll be an easy block,’ but he was fast. He was just running too fast so I knew I couldn’t get him without a block in the back or something. So I looked and said, ‘No I can’t go out there.’ Then I turned back inside. I said, ‘Lance Briggs. Dun dun dun dun…’ So I had to put extra groceries in my bag, close my eyes and just give him everything I had. So I hit him. Boom. He wobbles and it was kind of Goliath. He took about six or seven steps and he finally fell. I just wanted it to be a legal block. I didn’t want the offense move backward. Anything I can do to have the offense move forward is my job.”

RE: If the block got guys fired up

“It got them fired up for the moment, but then a couple plays later I threw a pick so that wasn’t good. It kind of brought me back down to reality so you just have to stay true to who you are and keep your mind on the goal which is to put points up.”

RE: If that was his highlight play outside of winning

“I think it was. I was kind of excited. I wish he would have scored then it would have been like a Top 10 play or something like that.”

RE: Mindset of Kelvin Benjamin after having drops

“Benji’s good. It happens to everybody. I can relate to how he’s feeling. I’m pretty sure I’ll talk to him before the next game after controlling your emotions because I don’t need to tell you how I was. It’s kind of hard for him going through the year that he had, not losing, not facing any adversity as far as loses, and winning the best prize you can win in college football, a national championship. When you finally hit a reality check and you’re excited about coming into this League you kind of feel like that is going to carry over. One thing, as a team, we kind of pushed over a hump last year and we kind of think we’re still going to be over the hump this year, but at the same time it’s still a different team so there’s going to be a lot of effort for us to do our thing. Back to Benji, there’s some things he has to learn. He has unbelievable potential, but as I said before potential has never gotten you anything. It’s going to be on him for him to work on his craft and sharpen his blades and come back each and every week and try to produce for this offense because he is an unbelievable asset. He’s a great talent. He’s a humble guy that wants to come in and work and he’ll get it. I don’t think he’s frustrated about not catching the ball. I think he’s most frustrated about knowing what he’s made of, knowing what he can do and that has translate for him and that’s not happening for him as much as he would like to.”

RE: Greg Olsen being underrated

“We’re the Carolina Panthers, a lot of people don’t talk about us unless it’s for other reasons. But we don’t care about that. We come to work, work hard each and every day. We play for each other. We just have to stay consistent. Greg has been consistent. I have to be consistent. The defense, the offense. We all hold ourselves to a standard that is each and every day. No matter what happens, good, bad or indifferent, rain, shine, sleet or snow. That’s the product that we’re going to put out there.”

RE: If this win gives the team a sigh of relief

“There’s no sense of panic for us. You hear things, what people may say, but if we were in the business of making a lot people happy we would be a screwed up organization. We’re not worried about that. We’ve got a solid front office, a solid coaching staff, solid players that keep steadfast to the given goal and we’ll be alright each and every week.”

RE: What were you getting treated?

“I just had a couple of scars on my body that I had to get covered. But I had my wisdom teeth taken out earlier this week is another thing to note. I’ve been under the scope so much this off season I guess it’s just catching up with me.”

RE: Why did he have wisdom teeth taken out this week?

“The dentist told me sooner or later they would have to be taken out. The doctor told me I was just getting one taken out. Now, I like the guy that just so happens to be the dentist, but I don’t want to keep seeing him under those type of standards. So I just told him to take all four of them out. Day one was good. Day two was good. But it’s been kind of kicking me in the nuts. It’s been hurting, bro.”

RE: How it compares to ankle surgery

“Surgery’s surgery. I hate it. But now that’s another thing … Cam Newton probable for next week.”

RE: On his first NFL start

“It felt good to start, but the better feeling was to win. First game starting in the NFL, and you come out with a gut-wrenching win, I feel like I’m on top of the world right now.”

RE: his whirlwind week

“It’s a typical week in the NFL. It’s my sixth year and I understand how the business works and I understand at times it’s going to be a little disjointed around the League. As a veteran I understand that I have to do my best job to not only try to keep a job but to put my best foot forward and continue my career.”

And scoring a touchdown?

“That was a good feeling to get in the end zone. You don’t take it for granted. It’s definitely a privilege to play. It’s not a right. The way we performed today was a very resilient effort, a resilient group, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

RE: his struggles today

“Today just felt like everything was happening bad for me. Adversity is going to come; that’s the biggest thing about football. You’ve just got to move on. The goal is what I’m going to do next game.”

RE: His second touchdown catch

“It was a great play design; I think all week we felt good about that in that certain situation with the way we can run the ball out of the shotgun with Cam riding that guy. It opened up perfect; it was very similar to the touchdown we scored against Tampa Bay. We felt good about it all week and Shules (Mike Shula) did a great job dialing it up at the right time. We needed a touchdown there; I think everyone didn’t feel great about settling for another field goal. Shules played aggressive and we got a big touchdown out of it.”

RE: Take us through that last touchdown catch

“Yea I was able to get up on his toes; I think they brought major pressure there. There wasn’t anybody else in the middle of the field, I knew if I could cross his face I had a feeling Cam (Newton) was coming to me there. I knew I had to win; I had to get across that guys face and regardless of where the ball was I had to fight through and expect to take a hit and just come down with the ball. How money is Cam when the game is on the line? To put the ball up there and do what he did is pretty incredible.”

 

RE: Comparing yourself to other elite tight ends

“To be honest with you guys, it has never been something that I’ve worried about. My overall goal is every week and every game for my teammates to see what I do to prepare and how hard I play and try to do the right things. I don’t do everything great, I don’t do everything perfect but I feel like guys can rely on me. If guys look at me and say we want him on our side then that’s good enough for me. I’m not so much worried about the touchdown dances and the celebrations and drawing all the attention. I try to do my job and that’s all I’m worried about.”

RE: Playing your former team

“I said all week that it wasn’t about me personally, it wasn’t about my history with them or about them getting rid of me, and it really wasn’t. I’ve moved passed that, I don’t hold any grudges, I don’t wish I could go back in time and undo it. I’m here for a reason and I wouldn’t trade being on this team or being in this city for anywhere and I’ve said that from the beginning. I’ve embraced being a Panther, I’ve embraced this city and I love being here and I’m excited to be a part of this team. I don’t look back and say what if. This was a normal game for us, it was nice to see some familiar faces after the game and catch up for a couple minutes with some guys, but this was about the Panthers getting a win and that’s how I approached it all week.”

RE: On Greg Olsen’s toughness

“Greg is a different kind of person. His work ethic, his desire and his passion for this game is just amazing. That all plays in with his toughness because he wants to win and be great so bad that he’s willing to do whatever it takes.”

RE: What is Cam like when you guys go into the no huddle?

“He takes it over. He does a good job in recognizing the defense and he does a good job in keeping it going. I thought obviously we were able to get into more of a rhythm. Not that the huddle stuff wasn’t affective either, but for whatever reason we were able to keep the momentum going and put them back on their heels and finish and that’s what you want to do.”

RE: On not having to answer any more questions about not having a sack this season 

“It just comes with the pressure and responsibility. I take on all the pressure, it doesn’t matter for me. People are going to talk about me, whatever they say. I’m going to work, that’s what I do. I’m going to try to be consistent, that’s what I do. That’s all I can do.”

RE: On beating his hometown Bears

“It was my team growing up, but now I’m a Carolina fan. Now I can go home and brag to the guys.”

RE: What the win does for the team’s confidence

“It put us back where we needed to be. Like you said, it builds your confidence. We needed that back. I wouldn’t say we lost but we had a minor setback. With this win, we’re going to get back the momentum we need to go to the next game.”

RE: Improving play of the defensive line throughout the game because of momentum

“They started out with screens and quick throws out to try to slow us down as a d-line. But once we got them to hold the ball we were at ‘em . When they held it we were at ‘em. Our coaches said play a little tighter and we’ll get there.”

RE: On his interception

“I was in a deep post, I believe we were in man coverage so I’m just waiting for tips and overthrows and breaking on the throw. He looked over the middle of the field and there was a receiver there and he overthrew him a bit and I just went down and made the catch. It was just one of those plays where you are in the right position at the right time and you’ve just got to make the play when it comes to you.”

RE: Turnovers key to the victory

“Yes most definitely, all three of those stat categories are paramount to being a great defense. If we can pressure the quarterback, tackle, force fumbles or whatever that may be. Getting the ball back and stopping their offense that is what we have to do to get the “W” for this football team.”

Re: Interception on pass to WR Santonio Holmes in fourth quarter

“Just got away from me. Just got high. Santonio was sneaking around the back there on a slant and it just got high and landed right in the guy’s arms. High and over the middle of the field is never good. And it happened twice today.”

Re: Did the noise bother you? Personnel?

“No. Nothing I can put my finger on. Wasn’t that overly loud. We’ve been on the road a lot so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Re: What prevented you from doing well in the vertical game? 

“Just the way they were playing defense. The safeties. They weren’t going to let us stay over the top. They had been burned enough on the outside with some of our screens and kicking the ball out verses the some of the blitzes. They were just going to try to keep it in front of them and they did.”

Was there anything they did or that you didn’t do?

“They just outplayed us. We didn’t make those plays when they were giving them to us.”

Do you feel like there was something that they changed?

“They did a great job. They got a little bit of momentum before the half and then came out and built off of it and won the game.”