Richard Sherman says the Carolina Panthers' struggles this season are karmic payback for how Cam Newton acted after the Panthers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of last year's playoffs.

Newton ran around Bank of America Stadium high-fiving fans after that victory, but when a Seattle fan dangled a "12" flag near the quarterback, he grabbed it, crumpled it up and tossed it.

"Yeah, he probably did," Sherman said when asked if Newton crossed the line. "I guess karma gets you. It doesn't look like you're going to be in the playoffs this year."

Carolina is in last place in the NFC South with a 4-7 record.