Packers inside linebacker Jamari Lattimore sacks Panthers quarterback Cam Newton on Sunday. Credit: Rick Wood

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Green Bay — Last season, Mike Daniels was a fixture inside on passing downs and ranked as the Green Bay Packers' leading interior pass rusher by far.

Now Daniels is having trouble even getting on the field come third down.

"We got guys that are getting it done," Daniels said after the Packers belted the Carolina Panthers, 38-17, at Lambeau Field. "So I try to play my role as best I can."

The Packers had no room Sunday for the 305-pound Daniels in their dime package. Instead, the starting third-and-long alignment, from left to right, featured outside linebackers Nick Perry, Mike Neal, Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews.

"It's our NASCAR package," said coach Mike McCarthy. "We get all four of our elephant types on the field at the same time. It's been very productive."

Defensive end Datone Jones had been a fixture in the dime until suffering an ankle injury Oct. 2 against Minnesota. Perry and others filled in at Miami before Perry, who was impressive in just 11 snaps last week, got the call against Carolina.

The obvious reason coordinator Dom Capers wanted the sleekest group possible was to contain quarterback Cam Newton.

"When they put their plan together they put a smaller group of guys out there for him," defensive end Josh Boyd said. "Keep your fast guys, guys that run with him.

"We knew we were going to have to get to him because if we didn't, you give him a rhythm, it's hard to stop him. We went in with that mindset and played off it. I don't see how it could have got any better."

The Packers sacked Newton, a physical specimen, three times before coach Ron Rivera pulled his franchise passer to avoid injury. If stationary Derek Anderson had been behind center for 60 minutes instead of 7½ in the fourth quarter, the sack count might have doubled.

Nose tackle Letroy Guion guessed it would have been an eight- or nine-sack day.

"We might have had eight sacks today, if that (Anderson playing) was the case," said cornerback Tramon Williams.

Of Newton's seven rushes, four (for 29 yards) came on aborted dropbacks when he was forced to take off. The Packers lost containment a few times, but given the commanding early lead the overriding objective was preventing the long bomb by messing with Newton any which way.

"We wanted to stop the run, force them to throw and have our big dogs up there go eat," cornerback Davon House said. "We're kind of working together. It's great.

"We're doing a good job right now covering the back end, which now the quarterback has to hold the ball a little bit longer. Our guys with their second and third rush moves can get to the quarterback.

"Vice versa, now the quarterback has to get the ball off quick because our D-line is eatin' and forcin' bad throws to Casey (Hayward) and what-not."

Actually, Daniels established the tone on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage when he blew past a blocker and bore in on Newton. The big man was able to shrug off Daniels and run for 6, but the pattern had been set.

Staked to that 21-0 lead after one quarter, the NASCAR gang attacked a beleaguered offensive line that was down three starters due to injury by the third quarter.

Peppers came off left tackle Byron Bell for a full sack and split another with Matthews, who had Newton dead to rights in the third quarter but couldn't knock him down.

Earlier, Perry recorded his third sack in three games marauding off the edge against right tackle Nate Chandler.

"Nick played well," Daniels said. "He got after the guy (Newton). He got himself one today and got back there a few times. He's big, strong and physical.

"Clay's Clay. Clay can play. You're going to see that out of Clay. Julius, I think he could probably line up at wideout.

"Mike (Neal) was great when he was a three-technique. I could imagine him lining up now weighing 300 as an outside linebacker and still be real athletic. He lost weight to get faster."

When Jones returns from injury, the Packers will have a plethora of pass rushers ready to mix and match.