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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Coach Ron Rivera says if the Carolina Panthers want to beat the Denver Broncos Thursday night theyll need to stay out of third-and-long situations.Thats something Cam Newton and company failed to do in a 24-10 loss to the Broncos in the Super Bowl seven months ago.Denvers top-ranked defense forced the Panthers into third-and-8 or longer on 12 separate occasions. That didnt bode well for the Panthers; those plays resulted in seven punts and two game-changing strip-sacks by MVP Von Miller leading to 14 Denver points -- the difference in the game.A big part of it is you have to have success on first and second down, Rivera said. We didnt have the success in the Super Bowl.The Broncos took full advantage, disguising coverages and sending extra pass rushers at Newton as part of their green dog blitz package.On Carolinas second possession, Miller beat right tackle Mike Remmers on the edge and ripped the ball away from Newton. Malik Jackson recovered in the end zone to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead.Carolina, which averaged a league-high 31.3 points per game during the regular season and 40 per game in the NFC playoffs, never could get in sync after that.Being in third-and-long is a difficult thing, whether they green dog you or blitz you straight up, Rivera said. Its tough to be successful.Newton said Sunday the Panthers have a great game plan this time around.While the league MVP wouldnt reveal the details, he confidently said the Panthers are locked and loaded for Thursday night, saying that this is a different season with different players.Were trying to get guys on the same page, Newton said. If we do that I believe well put ourselves in an unbelievable position to do what were capable of doing, and that is to win this football game.Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, who was injured his foot early in the Super Bowl but did return, said the impetus is on the running game to gain more yards on first and second down.Its very pivotal, Stewart said. Third-and-8 or third-and-11 makes it tough on the coordinators, tough on quarterbacks and tough on the offensive line to really grasp the situation.Tight end Greg Olsen said that Panthers simply made too many mistakes in the last meeting -- whether it was missing a blocking assignment, not being in the right place on a route or dropping passes.Carolina also had a season-high four turnovers against Denver in the Super Bowl.Denver has a good defense and good defenses force you into bad plays, Olsen said. At the same time we did a lot of things that were uncharacteristic of ourselves. They were plays that we were accustomed to making. That day it all snowballed on us and we never really got much going.The Panthers offense expects to benefit from the return of Kelvin Benjamin, their top wide receiver in 2014 who missed all of last season with a torn ACL.Although hes only expected to play about 35 snaps while rounding into football shape, Benjamins 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame and physical brand of play could give the Denver secondary trouble.Carolinas smaller receivers struggled against Denvers physical secondary.On one play Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib dragged wide receiver Philly Brown down by his facemask after a reception, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Talib said after the game he did it on purpose.Brown, who was shocked to hear that, said he wont let the past affect his play in the season opener.Aqib Talib dont run my life. I dont walk around thinking about him 24/7, Brown said. Thats not what Im thinking about right now. Im more focused on getting the victory.When asked if Talib has ever tried to contact him to offer an apology, Brown replied, I will block him. He will never have my number.While Benjamins return gives the Panthers a physical presence at wide receiver, Miller said the Broncos defensive backs will once again be up to the challenge.Benjamin is like a safety blanket for Cam, Miller said. Hes a deep, really big receiver -- really talented, very fast and can jump. Luckily we have the best secondary in the National Football League. ... Im totally comfortable in the no-fly zones ability to play the pass this game.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Sagaba Konate Jersey . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions. C.J. Miles Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. https://www.raptorsrookiesshop.com/Malcolm-Miller-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Custom Toronto Raptors Jerseys . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. Kawhi Leonard Jersey .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. LOS ANGELES -- For the fourth straight year, Tony Romo?and Jason Witten?did not play in the Dallas Cowboys preseason opener.Without Romo, rookie Dak Prescott?started at quarterback against the Los Angeles Rams.Owner Jerry Jones said before the game that Dez Bryant would not play, but the star receiver was active and caught a first-quarter touchdown pass.?Rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott missed the game because of a sore hamstring. He has not practiced since Aug. 2, but he has gone through some rehab work on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum field during pregame warm-ups.Left tackle Tyron Smith?also sat, but thhe rest of the starting offensive line was due to play.ddddddddddddDefensively, the Cowboys were without linebacker Sean Lee and cornerback Orlando Scandrick as they make their way back from knee surgeries.Romo last played in the preseason opener in 2012 against the Oakland Raiders. Witten suffered a lacerated spleen in that game and missed the rest of the preseason.The Cowboys have three more practices and a walkthrough scheduled for this week before they return to Texas on Thursday. ' ' '