Smith beat Talib on a 42-yard, first-quarter takeoff route. When Talib tackled him and wouldn't let go of his legs a few plays later, Smith knew he was in Talib's head.
The fiesty Smith's Monday night battle with Talib served as the tone-setting undercard for the Carolina Panthers' statement 24-20 comeback victory against the Patriots.
Steve Smith is a.k.a. 'Mighty Mouse.' He ain't going to back down," quarterback Cam Newton said of the receiver who caught four passes for 62 yards. "He's a tempo setter for this team. He's been on this team longer than anyone. And he's seen a lot of football."
"And he gets excited when a challenge like this is presented to him. When a cornerback like this is matched up on him the entire game, whether it's a pass play or a run play, he's going to give him all he's got.
"He did that tonight."
After Talib grabbed Smith's ankle and wouldn't let go, Smith knocked the cornerback's helmet off, and the Patriots defender wound up with a 15-yard personal foul penalty for unnecessary roughness.
The two spent the night jawing and shoving, but Smith came out on the winning end on the scoreboard and with his consistent playmaking.
On Carolina's first scoring drive that ended with Newton's 9-yard TD pass to receiver Brandon LaFell, Smith caught two passes for 47 yards and knocked Talib off his game.
"A guy like that, he can say whatever he wants to, but actions speak louder than words," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "I could tell that he was anxious — he was nervous.
"We didn't speak afterwards. I just let my play speak for me."
Ever have anybody grab your leg like that and not let go?
"Holding my leg and not letting me go? I play with my kids like that sometimes, but other than that, I really haven't had that," Smith said, smiling. "Just another notch on the bedpost."
