CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers returned to practice at Bank of America Stadium on Monday rested and plenty motivated following the bye week. Being in a first-place tie in the NFC South will do that for a team. The Panthers were big 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 Saints in a game that is just as important given the potential division tiebreakers at stake.… Continue Reading