Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton accounted for 271 yards (passing and rushing) and 3 scores as his team beat the New England Patriots 24-20 in a game that wasn’t decided until the last seconds ticked off the clock. With this win the Panthers are off to their best start after 11 weeks since their 2003 Super Bowl season.
Newton wasn’t perfect tonight, but he once again aggravated another defense with his All-World physical gifts. This was a night in which most of the Panthers’ offensive weapons needed to be on point because Tom Brady and the Patriots, despite their own offensive troubles tonight, never conceded this game to Carolina. The Panthers had to fight off a :56 second and potential 80 yard game-winning drive from Brady just to secure this win.
The first points of the game were provided by the Panthers on their second drive of the game. Newton fired a laser shot to receiver Brandon LaFell (7 catches for 59 yards and 1 score) who caught the pass at the beginning of the end zone right in front of Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon. That touchdown reception made the score 7-0 with 2:44 left in the first quarter.
Later in the second quarter, rookie Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short while he was being blocked, slapped the ball out of the grasp of the passing in front of him Stevan Ridley, with the running back’s fumble soon being recovered by Carolina defensive end Mario Addison at the CAR 13. Short’s forced fumble led to a successful 43 yard field goal by Graham Gano. With 5:02 left in the first half Carolina sported a 10-0 lead.
Gano sent the ensuing kickoff deep into the end zone for his 39th touchback of the season, which moved him into second place among kickers in that category in the NFL. On 3rd and 25 of this ensuing drive for New England and after an unnecessary roughness infraction versus guard Logan Mankins, Brady (29 of 40 for 296 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception) threw to tight end Rob Gronkowski (5 catches for 59 yards and 1 score) for a 17 yard gain to the CAR 24. That reception set up a successful 42 yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski for a 10-3 score with 1:09 left in the first half.
Then early in third quarter, Gronkowski showed why he was so missed by the Patriots earlier in the season. Near the 10:35 mark of the quarter, Brady threw to his left where Gronk was and the tight end caught the pass then got some real estate up field then fought three Panther tacklers—defensive backs Quintin Mikell and Mike Mitchell and late arriving linebacker A.J. Klein—and willed himself and the ball into the beginning of the end zone for a 9 yard score and eventual 10-10 tie.
With 2:22 and counting left in the third quarter, Newton fired a right corner 15 yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen (5 catches for 52 yards and 1 score) who was money in the bank most of the night for Newton as a safety valve/check down receiver. Olsen’s score gave Carolina a 17-10 lead. This drive was keyed by Newton’s SportsCenter worthy and stamina defying 14 yard run in which he juked Pats linebacker Rob Ninkovich out of his cleats near the beginning of the run.
But as alluded to earlier, Brady was a pain in the Panthers neck when he had to be. The Pats next scoring drive was keyed by a Brady just inside the right hash marks 37 yard completion to Kenbrell Thompkins who advanced the ball to the CAR 1. That reception set up Ridley’s quick with no huddle, 1 yard touchdown run to his left for an eventual 17-17 tie with 12:33 left in the game.
The Pats took their last lead of the game when Gostkowski made good on a 26 yard chip shot field goal to give New England a 20-17 lead with 6:32 left in the game.
Newton on the Panthers’ last offensive drive of the game proved that he is ready to take a step towards the elite quarterbacks circle. Later in said drive, Newton went through his reads quickly then looked to his left and fired a pass to receiver Ted Ginn Jr. who caught the pass and then sped untouched down the left sideline for the eventual game-winning touchdown. That 25 yard scoring pass made the score 24-20 with :59 seconds left in the game.
Then at the tail end of the Pats supposed game-winning drive, Panthers safety Robert Lester corralled a Brady pass in the end zone and that was the ball game.
