Justin Tuck: Maybe nobody's finer than Carolina Panthers

Justin Tuck: Maybe nobody's finer than Carolina Panthers
December 16
New York Daily News
"Justin Tuck said something about the Carolina Panthers Monday that he never would have even thought about saying two weeks ago.

The defensive end called them "probably the best team in the NFL."

That's what the Giants were thought to be in November, before their two-game losing streak allowed the Panthers to catch them. Now when Tuck, and several of his teammates, look at the red-hot Panthers - who come to Giants Stadium for a showdown for the NFC's No.1 seed on Sunday night - he sees the team the Giants (11-3) were supposed to be.

"They really have imposed their will on teams," Tuck said, one day after the Giants limped home from a 20-8 loss in Dallas. "And they still play great defense and their running game looks superb right now. It kind of looks like our running game early in the year.

"Obviously, that's where we want to be at. My motto has always been, 'To be the best, you have to beat the best.' And right now, Carolina is probably the best team in the NFL. They look that good to me."

They look that good to a lot of people, after they dominated the Denver Broncos, 30-10, on Sunday for their third straight win and their seventh in eight games. They were again powered by DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, who combined for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

That was nothing, though, compared to what that duo did the week before in a 38-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take the lead in the NFC South. Against a Bucs defense that still ranks in the top 10 in the NFL, Williams and Stewart put on a show, combining for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Tampa Bay had allowed one rushing touchdown all year before that Monday night game."
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