|
|
ATL |
CAR |
Emotional Newton leads Panthers to 20-17 win over Falcons
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Cam Newton felt the Carolina Panthers needed an emotional lift. He gave them one on Sunday.
An energetic and seemingly motivated Newton ran for 86 yards and a scored on a head-first diving 9-yard touchdown run as the Carolina Panthers erased an early 10-point deficit to beat the NFC South-rival Atlanta Falcons 20-17.
Newton pumped his fist, flexed his muscles and played up to the crowd in a game he knew the Panthers (6-3) had to have to remain a half-game behind the first-place Saints in the NFC South.
''When the Panthers are emotionless, good things don't happen,'' Newton said. ''If we can get Bank of America Stadium with a pulse, that's when we are at our best. And that is what I was trying to do.''
Newton was coming off an emotional week in which his top target - and best friend on the team - Kelvin Benjamin was traded to the Buffalo Bills.
With Benjamin gone, the Panthers turned to back to their running game, racking up a season-high 201 yards on the ground. Newton led the Panthers' rushing attack for the fourth straight week, while rookie Christian McCaffrey added a career-high 66 yards rushing and a touchdown . Devin Funchess, now Carolina's No. 1 receiver, had 86 yards on five catches.
''It was a good team win,'' Panthers coach Ron Rivera said.
And another tough loss for the Falcons (4-4).
Atlanta continued to struggle running the ball, Matt Ryan had a costly first half interception and a wide-open Julio Jones dropped a 39-yard touchdown pass in the end zone.
''With fumbles and drops and things like that, we're not trying to do it,'' Jones said. ''It's just happening, We are not taught to drop balls or fumble balls. It's just the luck of the draw right now.''
The Panthers spotted the Falcons 10 points before the game turned late in the first half, with Carolina scoring two touchdowns in the final 2:35 to take the lead for good.
The Falcons failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at the Carolina 35 when Devonta Freeman was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by a gang of Panthers. With the crowd fired up, Newton took just six plays to get the Panthers into the end zone, shuffling a pitchout to McCaffrey for a 4-yard score.
Ryan, who threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns , tried to get the Falcons more points before halftime but the strategy backfired when his receiver slipped and Mike Adams intercepted his pass and returned it to the Atlanta 25.
Four plays later, Newton leaped from the 3-yard line and flew through the air before he dunked the ball on Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant for the score. Newton turned to the crowd and began jumping up and down repeatedly , thrusting both arms in the air.
''He's gifted,'' Funchess said with a smile. ''I just try to go out and be as gifted as him.''
The Falcons cut the lead to 20-17 on a 19-yard touchdown reception by Tevin Coleman with 3:25 remaining in the game, but Carolina's defense kept Atlanta from scoring on its final drive to seal the win.
JONES' BIG DROP: With six catches for 118 yards, Julio Jones became the first receiver to surpass 100 yards receiving against the Panthers this season.
But Jones will likely remember the one he didn't catch. The perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver's drop with 8:12 left would have cut Carolina's lead to three.
''There are no excuses, just a missed opportunity,'' Jones said.
Said Ryan: ''He makes that play 100 out of 100 times. He's made more plays on this team than probably everybody.''
Panthers safety Kurt Coleman immediately ran over to console Jones, putting his arm around him after the drop.
''He said some spiritual things to me,'' said Jones, who had never met Coleman before. ''I guess he's a very spiritual guy.''
NO RUNNING GAME: The Falcons have struggled in recent weeks with their running game, and Sunday was no exception. Freeman and Coleman were held to a combined 51 yards on 16 carries.
''It's just execution in certain situations,'' Ryan said of the offense's struggles. ''We'd gone up and down the field, but (missed chances on) a third-and-1, a fourth-and-1, another third-and-short opportunity. . Those little things throughout the game, when you're doing good things but can't capitalize, well, that's been the difference for us.''
RECEIVER ROTATION: Rookie Curtis Samuel started for the Panthers as the No. 2 wide receiver opposite Funchess and had three catches for 23 yards. He ran once for 14 yards.
NEAL WITH THE STRIPS: Falcons safety Keanu Neal had a nice first quarter, forcing Stewart's two fumbles and recovering one. It marked the first time Stewart has lost two fumbles and fumbled twice in the same game since coming into the NFL as a first-round draft pick.
UP NEXT:
Falcons: Host Cowboys next Sunday.
Panthers: Host Dolphins on Monday, Nov. 13.
---
For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
Copyright 2017 by STATS. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS is strictly prohibited.
M. Ryan
2 QB 313 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, INT, RuYd |
22
FPTS
|
|
C. Newton
1 QB 137 PaYds, 86 RuYds, RuTD |
19
FPTS
|
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
Time of Pos | - | - |
1st Downs | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Passing | 0 | 0 |
Penalty | 0 | 0 |
3rd Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
4th Down Conv | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 0 | 0 |
Total Plays | 0 | 0 |
Avg Gain | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Rushing | 0 | 0 |
Rush Attempts | 0 | 0 |
Avg Rush Yards | 0 | 0 |
Net Yards Passing | 0 | 0 |
Comp. - Att. | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Yards Per Pass | 0 | 0 |
Penalties - Yards | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Touchdowns | ||
Rushing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 0 | 0 |
Other | ||
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Return Yards | ||
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Red Zone Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Goal to Go Eff. | 0-0 -0% | 0-0 -0% |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
M. RyanÂ
2 QB
22 FPTS
|
M. Ryan | 24/38 | 313 | 2 | 1 | 22 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. FreemanÂ
24 RB
5 FPTS
|
D. Freeman | 11 | 46 | 0 | 20 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. ColemanÂ
26 RB
7 FPTS
|
T. Coleman | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. GabrielÂ
18 WR
5 FPTS
|
T. Gabriel | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. RyanÂ
2 QB
22 FPTS
|
M. Ryan | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | 22 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
J. JonesÂ
11 WR
11 FPTS
|
J. Jones | 12 | 6 | 118 | 0 | 34 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. GabrielÂ
18 WR
5 FPTS
|
T. Gabriel | 4 | 3 | 56 | 0 | 40 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. HooperÂ
81 TE
3 FPTS
|
A. Hooper | 6 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 16 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. HardyÂ
14 WR
2 FPTS
|
J. Hardy | 2 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. SanuÂ
12 WR
8 FPTS
|
M. Sanu | 3 | 3 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. ColemanÂ
26 RB
7 FPTS
|
T. Coleman | 2 | 1 | 19 | 1 | 19 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. FreemanÂ
24 RB
5 FPTS
|
D. Freeman | 5 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 14 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. ColemanÂ
40 FB
0 FPTS
|
D. Coleman | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. ToiloloÂ
80 TE
0 FPTS
|
L. Toilolo | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. RobertsÂ
19 WR
0 FPTS
|
A. Roberts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. NealÂ
22 SS
|
K. Neal | 6-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. PooleÂ
34 CB
|
B. Poole | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. BeasleyÂ
44 OLB
|
V. Beasley | 4-1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. JonesÂ
45 MLB
|
D. Jones | 4-7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. JarrettÂ
97 DT
|
G. Jarrett | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. CampbellÂ
59 OLB
|
D. Campbell | 3-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. TrufantÂ
21 CB
|
D. Trufant | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. AlfordÂ
23 CB
|
R. Alford | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. WardÂ
28 RB
|
T. Ward | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. ReynoldsÂ
53 MLB
|
L. Reynolds | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. RubinÂ
79 DT
|
A. Rubin | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. ClaybornÂ
99 DE
|
A. Clayborn | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. GabrielÂ
18 WR
|
T. Gabriel | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. PoeÂ
92 DT
|
D. Poe | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. UpshawÂ
91 DE
|
C. Upshaw | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. ShelbyÂ
90 DE
|
D. Shelby | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. IshmaelÂ
36 SS
|
K. Ishmael | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. AllenÂ
37 FS
|
R. Allen | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. BosherÂ
5 P
|
M. Bosher | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. ReedÂ
50 DE
|
B. Reed | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
M. BryantÂ
3 K
5 FPTS
|
M. Bryant | 1/1 | 53 | 2/2 | 5 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. BosherÂ
5 P
|
M. Bosher | 4 | 49.0 | 2 | 59 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
A. Roberts 19 WR
0 FPTS
|
A. Roberts | 2 | 6.5 | 8 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
C. NewtonÂ
1 QB
19 FPTS
|
C. Newton | 13/24 | 137 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. NewtonÂ
1 QB
19 FPTS
|
C. Newton | 9 | 86 | 1 | 34 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. McCaffreyÂ
22 RB
14 FPTS
|
C. McCaffrey | 15 | 66 | 1 | 17 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. StewartÂ
28 RB
0 FPTS
|
J. Stewart | 11 | 21 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. SamuelÂ
10 WR
3 FPTS
|
C. Samuel | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. ShepardÂ
19 WR
1 FPTS
|
R. Shepard | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Artis-PayneÂ
34 RB
0 FPTS
|
C. Artis-Payne | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
D. FunchessÂ
17 WR
8 FPTS
|
D. Funchess | 7 | 5 | 86 | 0 | 33 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. McCaffreyÂ
22 RB
14 FPTS
|
C. McCaffrey | 6 | 5 | 28 | 0 | 9 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. SamuelÂ
10 WR
3 FPTS
|
C. Samuel | 5 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 12 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. ClayÂ
12 WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Clay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. ShepardÂ
19 WR
1 FPTS
|
R. Shepard | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
E. DicksonÂ
84 TE
0 FPTS
|
E. Dickson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
K. ColemanÂ
20 FS
|
K. Coleman | 5-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. BradberryÂ
24 CB
|
J. Bradberry | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. DavisÂ
58 OLB
|
T. Davis | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. SeymourÂ
27 CB
|
K. Seymour | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. KuechlyÂ
59 MLB
|
L. Kuechly | 3-8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. AddisonÂ
97 DE
|
M. Addison | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. ShortÂ
99 DT
|
K. Short | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. LarsenÂ
69 C
|
T. Larsen | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. HortonÂ
96 DE
|
W. Horton | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. JohnsonÂ
95 DE
|
C. Johnson | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. MunnerlynÂ
41 DB
|
C. Munnerlyn | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. DicksonÂ
84 TE
|
E. Dickson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. AdamsÂ
29 SS
|
M. Adams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. JacobsÂ
53 LB
|
B. Jacobs | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. PeppersÂ
90 DE
|
J. Peppers | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. WorleyÂ
26 CB
|
D. Worley | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Green-ThompsonÂ
54 OLB
|
S. Green-Thompson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. MayoÂ
55 MLB
|
D. Mayo | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. LoveÂ
93 DE
|
K. Love | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. LotuleleiÂ
98 DT
|
S. Lotulelei | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
G. GanoÂ
9 K
8 FPTS
|
G. Gano | 2/2 | 45 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. PalardyÂ
5 P
|
M. Palardy | 5 | 49.8 | 3 | 57 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
K. Clay 12 WR
0 FPTS
|
K. Clay | 3 | 0.7 | 2 | 0 |