Cam Newton wanted to make sure everyone knew whose house it was.
So when he saw a Packers banner hanging over the rail in pregame warm-ups, he tore it down, and took it back with him to the locker room.
Then, he and his Panthers teammates proved their home was their castle, beating the Packers 37-29 to improve to 8-0.
“There’s a Green Bay banner in Bank of America Stadium,” Newton said, via Richard Walker of the Gaston Gazette. “That don’t match. I feel it’s my due diligence to protect this house.
“We played in Green Bay last year and I didn’t see no ‘Panther Country’ signs up there.”
Of course, that’s not even a subtle nod to his Under Armour sponsorship, but it’s also an accurate portrayal of what happened Sunday. Newton lacks a fast food deal (he has attached his name and face to a fruit and vegetable campaign, however), but he later added that: “You’re not going to sell a Whopper at McDonald’s.”
The Panthers had to hold on beat the Packers, the same way they had to hold on to beat the Colts in overtime Monday. But they continue to hold on, winning 12 straight regular season going back to last season.
And the best news is, the house they’re so staunchly protecting might be where they play all their playoff games, as they now have at least a two-game lead on everyone else in the conference.