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Tom Coughlin said he's experienced "an emotional tug of war" since the sudden passing of his brother this week. You can't equate a football game with the loss of a sibling, but can the team help the healing process by playing well and winning the game Sunday?**
"I think that's the only way that we could help him out is to have a great week of practice. I think we've done our job, have a great preparation and go out there and play the style of football that we expect to play. That's the only thing that we can do to try to make this week a little better for him."
>> KNOW YOUR OPPONENT: PANTHERS ROSTER BREAKDOWNAs a quarterback, do you find yourself walking a line during a game between being aggressive and trying to make a play and being careful and not turning the ball over?
"After each play you have to make sure the ball is in our hands. That's the number one goal as a quarterback, you have to protect the football. That's the goal and that's what I've got to do, no matter the circumstances. There are going to be a lot of circumstances in a game and not everything is going to be the way it's drawn up on paper, so you have to make smart decisions no matter what point in the game it is.
During practices and games, you're always pointing out where the middle linebacker is. Carolina's MIKE linebacker, Luke Kuechly, led the league in tackles last season. When you watch him on tape, is he different, is he more active than other linebackers?
"He's a really good player. He's very instinctive and I think he must do a lot of preparation and study. He has a feel for the ball, he's making interceptions, he's making tackles, so you do have to keep an eye on him. He sometimes does not do exactly what's in the rule, what you're expecting: 'Hey, in this coverage here, the MIKE should be here,' and he kind of has a good feel. So you do have to keep an eye on him and make sure to see where he is."
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