About an hour after his team destroyed the Giants’ season, Panthers linebacker Na’il Diggs climbed up a folding chair in the visitor’s locker room, took out a Sharpie and left a reminder.
“Na’il Diggs, 53, Panthers!!” he wrote on a white cinderblock just outside the shower room.
“Before they blow it up,” he said with a smile.
PHOTOS: GIANTS TROUNCED BY PANTHERS
Not even the walls of Giants Stadium were safe from the Panthers, who drubbed the Giants, 41-9, in their final game in their home of 33 years. The victory was particularly sweet for Carolina after having lost 34-28 in Week 16 here last year.
“To come in and get a little bit of redemption, and a little bit of satisfaction . . . to know we won in the closer in this building it feels good,” Diggs said. “It’s something to hang our hats on.”
Many Panthers chose their words carefully after the game, but it was clear to everyone in the building that the Giants inexplicably failed to show up, even with their playoff lives on the line.
“I thought they would run the ball a lot more and maybe come out with a little more energy,” Diggs said. “We were expecting to get their best shot because it was the last game in their stadium, they’re fighting for a playoff spot and they’re a good team. We expected a high-energy, hard-hitting, physical game. But you know nothing’s done until it actually happens.”
It was the Panthers, who have nothing to play for, who came out with the fire and hung 41 points and 416 yards on the Giants.
“I felt like we wanted it more,” said running back Jonathan Stewart, who rushed for 206 yards.
The crowd, which came to celebrate the Giants’ last game at the Stadium, grew restless early, booing the home team. Most of the fans cleared out after the third quarter.
“After they were throwing ice at us last year, it feels pretty good to send them home early,” Diggs said.
According to Diggs, the talent level may have favored the Giants, but the Panthers had the advantage in heart.
“I’m not sure if it was tackling or just the attitude or maybe they got a little complacent last week with the win in Washington, who knows?” Diggs said. “It could be a number of things for each player. It comes down to just tackling, getting turnovers as a defense. Fundamental football is what games come down to.”