EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – After one of the strangest and nastiest games this NFL season, Cam Newton had an odd feeling.
His Carolina Panthers had just shrugged off a record-tying Giants comeback to remain perfect with a wild 38-35 victory Sunday. Newton, who threw for five touchdowns to further state his case for NFL MVP honors, wasn't quite sure what he'd just been through.
"It was kind of a weird feeling in that locker room, and I'm still feeling kind of weird, but not enough to [not] celebrate," said Newton, who also rushed for 100 yards. "We're just trying to find a way to get victories."
New York tied the score after trailing by 28 points in the third quarter, but Carolina got to 14-0 on Graham Gano's 43-yard field goal as time expired.
It was Carolina's 18th consecutive regular-season victory. Newton has thrown for 19 touchdowns in the past five games and a career-best 33 in this so-far special season.
It looked oh so easy when the NFC South champions led 35-7 with 5 minutes, 32 seconds left in the third quarter. Then the Giants (6-8) matched San Francisco's 28-point rally against New Orleans in 1980.
One big difference: The 49ers won that game in overtime. The Giants trail Washington by one game in the NFC East, and they have lost in the final minutes six times.
Carolina hasn't lost at all, of course. The Panthers are the fourth NFL team to reach 14-0 and play at Atlanta and at home to Tampa Bay to finish the schedule.