The Panthers are treating Sunday night's preseason game against the Jets like it is their regular-season opener.

Carolina has game-planned for New York and will play their starters into the third quarter.

They've even used simulated crowd noise in practice, a rarity for a preseason game. Ron Rivera has spoken repeatedly to his players about performing on a "big stage" in front of a national television audience.

"I feel as if every stage is big for us this year," Cam Newton said. "We have a point to prove and we have to have that chip on our shoulder each and every game."