Panthers quarterback Cam Newton hasn't enjoyed the same success he did during last season's Super Bowl run, but he's looking forward to competing against Josh Norman, his former teammate and sparring partner, on Monday night all the same.
The Panthers travel to Washington, D.C., where Norman has enjoyed a solid, if unspectacular, season with the Redskins.
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Though Newton understands he's liable to get fired up against Norman, he's prepared to do his best to control his emotions.
"I have to control that beast more than anything," Newton said Wednesday in a news conference. "Josh is a person that challenged me daily because of that competitive mentality on the field, off the field, after practice. I respect Josh. Our relationship goes way beyond football. I look forward to the matchup on Monday night but not only because of that.
"We're playing in a hostile environment against a team that is on the rise — a very, very hot team right now. It's going to be a good judge of where we are and how we need to get better."
The Panthers (5-8) sit in last place in the NFC South with just three games left in the regular season.
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Despite the hardships, Newton claims there is no difference in the locker room from last year's dream run.
"If you look at guys' faces in the locker room and our preparation, nothing has changed," Newton said. "It's all about creating good habits and knowing that if we want to be in the position we want to be in for years to come — if we want to sustain success — we have to win games in November and December."
All eyes will be on Newton and Norman as they reunite on the football field. Norman has been known to try to get under opponents' skin — Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr., we're looking at you. But watching Norman compete against a friend should be just as compelling.
The Redskins (7-5-1) are a half game behind the Buccaneers for the final NFC wild-card spot. They are entering must-win mode.