Yesterday evening, the Carolina Panthers extended their run to 13-0 and the NFL and remain the only unbeaten team in the league with every other side losing at least two games.
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Panthers tight end Greg Olsen sat out the second half after suffering an injury to his left knee with 22 seconds left in the first half on an incomplete pass in the end zone.
Newton put on another MVP performance Sunday, tossing just 21 times (completing 15) for 265 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions and a career-high passer rating of 153.3.
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.
SEAHAWKS 35, RAVENS 6: In Baltimore, Russell Wilson threw five touchdown passes, three to Doug Baldwin to lead Seattle (8-5).
Wilson went 23 for 32 for 292 yards.
NEWTON TOUGH TO STOP: Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is clearly in a zone with 13 touchdown passes and only one interception in the last four games.
EAGLES 23, BILLS 20 (at Philadelphia) – Caleb Sturgis kicked a 30-yard field goal with 3:26 left, then Ed Reynolds intercepted Tyrod Taylor’s pass in the final minutes.
The Jaguars (5-8) scored on offense, defense and special teams in the same game for the first time since 2011, the franchise’s most complete game under third-year coach Gus Bradley.
The next game for the Panthers is Sunday, December 20 at 1 p.m. against the Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Saints 24, Buccaneers 17: Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes to Marques Colston and visiting New Orleans ended its four-game skid.
Packers 28, Cowboys 7: Eddie Lacy ran for 124 yards and a touchdown, and fellow Green Bay running back James Starks had two scores in the home victory. Norman didn’t shut Jones down – he had 88 yards receiving on seven receptions – but he held him in check and well below his 111.5-yard season average.
Last week, Rivera referenced the 2009 San Diego Chargers team that barely played its starters in Week 17 and was subsequently upset in its first playoff game two weeks later. Carolina was so dominate that Newton was taken out of the game and didn’t play in the fourth quarter.
THERE IS SUCH A THING AT TOO MUCH REST: Let’s say hypothetically even while losing a game and thus taking the undefeated talk off the table, the Panthers still manage to clinch homefield before their final regular season game. They are two games ahead of Arizona (11-2) with three to play in the quest for the No. 1 overall playoff seed in the NFC.
The Browns snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Tennessee Titans (3-10) 7 New York Jets (8-5) 30: A big game for Ryan Fitzpatrick with 3 touchdown passes and forcing Marcus Mariota into one interception for the Jets.
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After quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski connected on a pair of timely conversions in the first half, the New England Patriots unleashed their ferocious defense in the second half to pummel Houston 27-6. DeAngelo Williams ran for two. The Rams held Detroit’s Calvin Johnson to a late 16-yard catch, and Aaron Donald had three sacks of Matthew Stafford.
