Carolina Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. starred against former team

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Despite downplaying it this past week, Panthers receiver Ted Ginn Jr. had redemption on his mind when he faced his former team Sunday night.

After signing a three-year deal with the Cardinals in the spring of 2014, Ginn was released after just one season in the desert. So as much as he didn't want to make himself a storyline, his effect on the NFC championship made him one.

Midway through the first quarter, Ginn nearly broke a punt return, tripping on the turf after a 32-yard pick up. Six plays later, he zigzagged 22 yards for the Panthers' first touchdown. But his biggest contribution came late in the second quarter when he turned into a defender.

"Probably to me the play of the game was the missed throw that Cam Newton made to Ed Dickson going up the seam," coach Ron Rivera said. "He overthrew him and Patrick Peterson had an opportunity to return it. Low and behold Ted Ginn Jr. caught him from behind. That gave us the opportunity to make the next turnover."

After Ginn chased down Peterson, Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer threw the first of his four interceptions and the Panthers took a commanding 24-7 lead into halftime.

"When you're in a dogfight like we were today, every play counts," Ginn said. "When you're on the track, they always say move, and when they say that, you know somebody is coming. I just tried my hardest to go out and not stop on a play. Me going down and running him down to help us get an interception and give them zero points before the half ... that could have really turned this game around (for them)."

--A day after the Panthers took Cam Newton with the No. 1 pick of the 2011 draft, the quarterback stood in the team meeting room and told the media:

"I understand it's not something that's going to be instant, like instant grits. It's more like collard greens."

The Panthers don't have many press conferences in that room, but because of the NFC Championship's increased media presence, that's where Newton talked after Sunday's win.

When reminded of what he said 5 1/2 years ago, Newton smiled and said:

"I said it then and I'll say it now, I'm excited. It was a process. It wasn't going to be - what did I say - instant grits, quick grits. It was going to be a process like long cooked collard greens. I think those collard greens are brewing right now. You can smell it from 100 miles away."

NOTES: Fullback Mike Tolbert tweaked a knee in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship. It is not considered serious. ... Receiver Philly Brown put himself in Carolina's record books with an 86-yard touchdown reception, the longest in Panthers' playoff history. ... Center Ryan Kalil missed the final few plays of Sunday's first half with a knee injury, but he returned at the start of the third quarter to finish out the game. ... Defensive end Charles Johnson had his second sack in as many weeks. He now has nine sacks in eight games against the Cardinals, including three in the past two playoff meetings. ... Safety Roman Harper missed the entire second half after he was poked in the eye while trying to make a tackle. Harper visited the eye doctor Monday, but he's not expected to miss the Super Bowl.