Newton connected on scoring strikes of 74 and 46 yards to Ted Ginn Jr., and Jonathan Stewart ran for a touchdown as the Panthers scored on their first three possessions to take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Derek Carr threw for two touchdowns, including a go-ahead, 16-yard pass to Mychal Rivera with 14:26 left.
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-WR Brenton Bersin missed the Atlanta game with a groin injury. He was replaced by A.J. McCarron who completed 22 of 32.
His injury, and a concussion that knocked tight end Tyler Eifert out of the game, were a blow to the Bengals’ hopes of securing the top seed in the American Football Conference.
Regardless, Newton has found a way to win, undefeated in his last 15 regular-season starts. The Chiefs improved to 8-5 and lead the chase for an AFC wild-card berth.
But it’s been a frustrating season for one of the Panthers’ highest-paid players, with a salary cap hit of $20 million this year.
SEAHAWKS 35, RAVENS 6: Russell Wilson threw five touchdown passes, three to Doug Baldwin, against injury-depleted Baltimore. Eli Manning is completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 3,655 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Freeman also could not find his way into the end zone and ended up losing a fumble before this game was over.
A goal line stand on fourth and goal from the Panthers 6 with 9:49 to go in the fourth quarter kept the shutout intact, after Tre Boston and Dwan Edwards brought down Roddy White after only a four-yard gain on a pass from Matt Ryan. He broke free for 44 yards on the third play of the game, showed that the Falcons were not prepared for the Panthers’ rushing attack. Well, it isn’t producing almost as much chatter, but Eli Manning for the New York Giants this week at No. 6 in passing yards qualifies as the lowest-ranked quarterback the Panthers will face in a four-week stretch.
Cleveland snapped a seven-game losing streak and running back Isaiah Crowell rushed for two touchdowns to beat San Francisco in Johnny Manziel’s return as starting quarterback. Before Olsen was injured he had caught 3 of his 4 targets for 52 yards. The Chiefs’ Alex Smith passed for 191 yards and a touchdown.
Even if he’s not in the same category as Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers as a “pure” quarterback-we can have the whole “elite” debate during the off-season, I guess-give it up for Newton being in a class of his own when it comes to running with it and reaching the endzone. The Falcons gained just 54 yards on 16 carries.
Charles Johnson, the team’s highly competitive defensive end, took to Twitter to express his displeasure with Rivera’s decision to take him out in the fourth quarter.
NOT SHORT ON PRESSURE: Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short continues to dominate in the middle of the line, recording his eighth and ninth sacks of the season.
With 435 yards and 29 first downs, Green Bay got better production out of their inconsistent offense with coach Mike McCarthy assuming play-calling duties again.
In other key results, Pittsburgh won at Cincinnati to cut the Bengals’ lead in the AFC North division to two games with three to play, New England sealed a playoff spot with victory at Houston, and Denver blew a 12-point lead to lose against Oakland. He didn’t have a sack or a tackle, but he did have one quarterback hurry.
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The Falcons also would have to finish with a better record than the Buccaneers (6-7) to make the playoffs because they lost both games against Tampa Bay.
