Dramatic return lifts MNF

Never mind the Josh Norman reunion. If the Washington Redskins can’t knock off the Carolina Panthers on Monday night, they’ll join the Panthers in playing out the string.

The Redskins (7-5-1) hope to snag one of two NFC wild card berths. To do so, they’ll probably have to win out. The New York Giants (104), Atlanta Falcons (8-5) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-5) are ahead of Washington in that race, although one of the latter two will earn a post-season ticket as the NFC South champion.

Both the Redskins and Panthers made the playoffs a year ago, the former as NFC East champs, the latter as NFC South champs.

Carolina (5-8) will miss the post-season for the first time in three years. Despite cruising to a 15-1 record and NFC championship last season, they’ve struggled since dropping their Super Bowl rematch with the Broncos in the opener at Denver.

A huge roster hole the Panthers never could fill was that of all-pro cornerback Norman. The Panthers franchise-tagged him as negotiations for a long-term contract inched along. But in the spring, Carolina GM Dave Gettleman became convinced the two sides would never come to an deal and rescinded the tag, setting Norman free. Washington scooped him up.

Carolina’s secondary has struggled all this season with raw, inexperienced or just plain bad cornerbacks, weakening what had been one of the NFL’s premier defences. The Redskins’ defence, in contrast, improved overnight.

Asked about Norman this week, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera spoke glowingly about his former star.

“First of all, Josh is a good person,” Rivera said. “He’s got a terrific heart, he really has. Secondly, he has always been flamboyant. Third, he is stubborn, hard-headed, but he listens. He learned and he grew, and you saw his development.”

Norman said he hopes Panthers quarterback Cam Newton doesn’t do what most teams this season have done: avoid throwing to his side of the field. Norman and Newton remain tight friends, and Norman said he wants Newton to challenge him Monday night. But will he?

“I hope so,” Norman said.