There is a message stitched inside the collar of every Carolina Panthers jersey. Cam Newton and the Panthers took them to heart on Sunday. Newton, who had struggled all afternoon, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixon with 23 seconds left to lift the Panthers to a 17-13 win over the New Orleans Saints and clinch the team's first playoff berth since 2008 before more than 70,000 rain-drenched fans. Carolina (11-4) can wrap up the NFC South and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win next Sunday at Atlanta.
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