Shoutbox. » Backstrom didnt appear to see

Whats better than putting together a signature win? How about back-to-back signature wins? The up-and-coming Carolina Panthers have a chance to do exactly that in front of a national television audience when they host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on "Monday Night Football." The game can be seen live on TSN starting with Monday Night Countdown at 6:30 p.m et/3:30 p.m. pt. The Patriots, who had a bye in Week 10, will look to continue the offensive success they had a week earlier when New England scored 55 points and racked up 610 yards of total offense in a 55-31 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brady threw for 432 yards and four touchdowns without an interception in that one, his 15th game with at least four touchdowns and no interceptions. The Pats -- not surprisingly -- are a perfect 15-0 in those contests. Three New England receivers eclipsed the 100-yard mark to help the Patriots (7-2) move to 5-0 at home this season. Rob Gronkowski garnered a career-high nine receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown, Aaron Dobson had two scores on a five-catch, 130-yard effort and Danny Amendola totaled 122 yards and a touchdown on four grabs. "It felt great out there," Gronkowski said. "It was important for us to play this way. Until now, we hadnt been clicking for all four quarters." Stevan Ridley added a pair of rushing touchdowns while compiling 115 yards on 26 carries. "Theres a lot of football left to be played," said New England head coach Bill Belichick. "We just need to focus on what were doing and who were playing and try to go out there and play better than weve played, try to improve and try to win. Were not looking at anybody but Carolina right now." The Panthers will be aiming for their sixth consecutive win behind a defense which has been one of the NFLs best, allowing 115 points, the second-fewest in the league coming into Week 11 behind only Kansas City (111). Carolina is the only team in the NFL to rank in the top five in total defense (second), rushing yards allowed (second) and passing yards allowed (tied for fourth). In their last encounter, the Panthers held San Francisco to nine points and 151 total net yards in a 10-9 victory. Entering that contest, the 49ers had averaged 34.8 points and 357.6 total net yards per game over their previous five contests. "Everybodys on the same page," said Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson, who ranks second in the NFC with 8 1/2 sacks. "When everybody is on the same page, buying into the scheme, youre going to end up being successful. Its all about being a team and playing as one." The Carolina defense held the 49ers to a paltry 2-for-13 conversion rate on third down and recorded six sacks. DeAngelo Williams touchdown run late in the first half was the only time either team found the end zone, and it helped the Panthers stay within a game of New Orleans in the NFC South race. "There were a lot of good things that went on in this game today," said Carolina head coach Ron Rivera. "The defense did step up and play really well and I thought some of the things we did offensively, especially when we had good field position, were really good." The Patriots have won three of their five all-time meetings with Carolina, including a thrilling 32-29 win in Super Bowl XXXVIII. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Brady really hadnt been himself this season until exploding against the Steelers, thanks in large part to the uncertainty at the skill positions. The fact that Gronkowski and Amendola are now healthy and Dobson seems to getting it has to be a scary thought for most opposing defenses. "They have a one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game, a great coach, and now they are getting some players back. It is a tremendous challenge for our football team," Rivera said. "Tom Brady is a very cerebral guy, hes been around a while, he knows where hes going with the ball, hes smart, he understands defenses," linebacker Luke Kuechly added. "So weve just got to do a good job of playing our job, doing our responsibilities and make sure were in the right spot." The Panthers, of course, arent most defenses. Since taking over the middle linebacker position in Week 5 of the 2012 season, Kuechly, who earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his effort against San Francisco, has spearheaded an amazingly consistent group. The imposing front seven is allowing a measly 82.0 yards per game on the ground. "Theyre one of the best defenses in the league," Brady said. "We have to play really well. I think our execution has to be at its best." The Carolina offense isnt nearly as formidable save for dynamic quarterback Cam Newton, who has thrown 13 touchdowns and rushed for four more so far this season. Veteran receiver Steve Smith and tight end Greg Olsen have been Newtons favorite targets but neither will pop the top off a defense at this stage. Newton, though, seems to have realized that he can live to play another down so to speak and punting the football isnt the worst thing in the world with his defense. Taking care of the football is paramount and Newton has done so in recent weeks. "Hes playing very efficiently. He does a good job," Belichick said when asked about Newton. "Hes obviously a threat with the ball in his hands to run. He can make all the throws.: The Pats defense has been hampered by injuries, especially up the middle where defensive tackles Vince Wilfork and Tommy Kelly, along with linebacker Jerod Mayo have been lost to season-ending injuries. That said Belichick believes his team is ready for Newton because they have already faced a few other mobile QBs like Buffalos EJ Manuel and the Jets Geno Smith. "I think that a lot of the plays that Carolina runs weve seen from Buffalo and the Jets," Belichick said. "The fact that we have seen some of those plays, weve worked on the basic blocking schemes and how to fit on them, where everybody needs to be." OVERALL ANALYSIS Brady has a 13-4 career record on Monday nights and still enjoys the extra attention the stand-alone showcase provides. "Monday Night Football is always pretty cool, especially when you play a really good team on Monday Night Football," the three-time Super Bowl champ said. "Its a fun night." It wont be as much fun against this Carolina defense, however. Kuechly and Co. will do enough to slow down the Pats on the big stage to give the Panthers their sixth straight win. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Panthers 20, Patriots 16 Adam Gotsis Jersey . They named Mark Washington as their defensive co-ordinator on Thursday and appear to be closing in on an offensive co-ordinator. Deyon Sizer Jersey . - Kyle Wood and Barclay Goodrow scored second period power-play goals to provide all of the scoring for the North Bay Battalion in a 2-0 victory over the Erie Otters in Ontario Hockey League action on Thursday. http://www.cheapbroncosjerseysauthentic....nt-jones-jersey. Footballs governing body said Tuesday that of the 2,577,662 tickets allocated for this years tournament, 1,041,418 have gone to people in Brazil. The U. Chaz Green Jersey .com) - It may just be the right place and the right opponent for the Detroit Red Wings to snap their longest losing streak of the season. Aaron Burbridge Jersey . -- Washingtons Bradley Beal seemed to make every shot he took in setting a career high with 37 points.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Columbus Blue Jackets took advantage of the Minnesota Wild, who were coming off an emotional game a day earlier. The Blue Jackets got goals from Cam Atkinson, Nick Foligno, Boone Jenner and R.J. Umberger and Curtis McElhinney posted his first shutout since 2011 in a 4-0 victory on Friday night. "We talked about them playing last night and there was definitely an emphasis to jump all over them," Umberger said, referring to the Wilds 4-3 home win over Chicago. "We were moving pretty good." The Blue Jackets had not played since Tuesday, filling the time with two hard, full practices in which they were able to work on several problem areas. Minnesotas Zach Parise knew his team didnt have its heart in the game. "We were just flat and not crisp," he said. "We were pretty brutal through the neutral zone and couldnt get anything generated." Wild coach Mike Yeo didnt want to use his clubs first home win over the Blackhawks since 2008 as an excuse, but still thought that was the root of his clubs problems. "We played right into that (being tired), too, turning pucks over," he said. "We were on our heels, slow reacting, slow getting to places. We were not pressing the way we needed to be." It was the Blue Jackets second win in a row, the first time theyve won back-to-back games since Oct. 25. They did it in their first game without last years Vezina Trophy winner as the NHLs top goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, who will miss the next month or so with a strained groin. McElhinney made 20 saves in his first shutout since Feb. 5, 2011, while with the Anaheim Ducks. "Its a good feeling for me to step in here again and have another shutout game, another win," he said, referring to the Blue Jackets consecutive shutouts. "Hopefully, its the start of something good and we can keep it going." Foligno and Umberger each also had assists and Ryan Johansen added two assists to stretch his points streak to four games. The Blue Jackets have been struggling with injuries. In addition to Bobrovsky, top offensive threat Marian Gaborik (sprained knee) is out for another two weeks and top off-season free-agent signing Nathan Horton (shoulder surgery) has yet to play in a Columbus sweater and likely woont be ready for at least another month.dddddddddddd McElhinneys third NHL shutout came in his 78th game. After a scoreless first period, the Blue Jackets took over. At the 1:17 mark of the second, Atkinson took a pass from Dubinsky and wristed a shot from the top of the right circle that Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom didnt appear to see. He barely moved as the puck beat him high and near his right shoulder. "Some games its tougher to swallow the puck when you dont see it," he said. The Blue Jackets went on their first power play when Matt Cooke went off for hooking. Columbus soon took advantage on the man advantage. Johansen passed to Umberger for a shot from a hard angle that handcuffed Backstrom, with Johansen then following the puck to get a whack at it on the rebound. Before the puck could be cleared, Foligno found the net on his second attempt from the right doorstep at the 5:40 mark. "We were able to maintain our energy and continue to push," Foligno said. "You saw great efforts from everybody tonight -- and Curtis McElhinney shut the door." The Wild had a prime chance to get back in the game when they had 1:13 of a 5-on-3 advantage midway through the second period. But McElhinney smothered a hard slap shot from the left point by Jason Pominville and then later appeared to stop a high shot by Zach Parise off his mask. "The big thing was that 5 on 3," Columbus coach Todd Richards said. "That was a critical point of the game. Curtis made probably three great saves for us and our (penalty) killers did a great job." Columbus was still controlling the play early in the third when, on a 3-on-3 rush, Jenner wristed a shot from the top of the left circle that eluded Backstrom high on his glove side. The goal, at the 4:38 mark, was the rookies third of the season. Umberger closed the scoring at the 9:05 mark when, while trailing the play, he benefited from a nifty feed from Foligno. Foligno had only one defender to beat but instead whipped a blind pass to Umberger who had virtually an empty net. Notes: The Blue Jackets improved to 35-0 under Richards when leading after two periods. ... It was the Wilds third loss in a row on the road. ... Minnesota has been shut out in two of its past three games.