CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers returned to practice at Bank of America Stadium on Monday rested and plenty motivated following the bye week.

A few days off and suddenly being in a first-place tie in the NFC South will do that for a team.

The Panthers were beneficiaries of the New Orleans Saints’ 24-20 upset over Tampa Bay on Sunday, an outcome which dropped the four-time defending division champion Buccaneers into a tie with Carolina at 7-6 with four games remaining in the regular season.

The Panthers and Buccaneers play twice over the final three weeks, but first up for Carolina is a trip to the Superdome to face the 3-10 Saints in a game with potential division tiebreakers at stake.

“The goal is to go 1-0 this week with a chance to win the division,” Panthers coach Dave Cana

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