At the opening coin toss of Sunday’s matchup between the Panthers and Packers, Carolina won and elected to take the ball.

That decision was a big one, as it enabled the Panthers to kick with the wind in the fourth quarter on a day with particularly windy conditions at Lambeau Field.

Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was very happy about that choice late, as he sent a game-winning, 49-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired to give the Panthers a 16-13 upset victory over the significantly favored Packers.

Rico Dowdle put together another terrific performance, rushing for 130 yards on 25 carries with a pair of touchdowns. But Dowdle’s penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct while celebrating his second score resulted in a 15-yard penalty. Kicking against the wind in the third quarter

See Full Page