LANDOVER, Md. – There weren’t many fireworks in the Josh Norman Revenge Bowl, but once again, his former squad haunted him.

The Washington Redskins cornerback, for the first time playing the Carolina Panthers – the team that offered him the franchise tag only to rescind it in April – played well on an individual basis. But Carolina got the last laugh in Monday night’s 26-15 Panther victory.

“I believe that Josh had this game circled,” Carolina receiver Ted Ginn Jr. told reporters after the game. “But we did, too.”

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Panthers quarterback Cam Newton targeted a receiver in Norman’s coverage only five times out of his 37 passing attempts. Out of those, Newton completed only three receptions for 32 yards.

Norman almost had the play of the game when he leaped up in the air and nearly came down with an interception on an attempted deep pass to Ginn.

“I wanted him to,” Norman said when asked about Newton challenging him. “That’s what I was talking to him about out on the football field. That’s why we were jawing at each other a good bit there. He threw that long ball to Teddy. I should have came down with it. It popped up from me.

“After that I didn’t see no more of him all night. I think (offensive coordinator Mike) Shula got in his ear. I wish he didn’t because I’m pretty sure he would’ve uncontained the beast.”

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Throughout the game, Norman covered Ginn and fellow receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess. For the majority of snaps, however, Norman shadowed Benjamin, often following him to the right side of the field.

Norman called facing his former squad “different,” but the Washington secondary couldn’t avoid giving up the big play.

Late in the first quarter, the Panthers bunched Ginn and Benjamin to one side of the field. As Norman streaked down the field with Ginn on a go route up the seam, it appeared as if he thought he’d have help over the top from safety Donte Whitner. Norman didn’t, and Newton found Ginn for an uncontested 30-yard score.

“Some of the guys did what I knew they were going to do,” Norman said. “The routes they were running were similar to going back to what I saw in practice when I was with them. They did a couple of things to switch up, which is cool. But at the same time, I don’t know, just going out there and just playing ball and trying to get a W, I think that was the biggest thing. And we didn’t get that accomplished tonight.”

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