Stephen Gostkowski s 26 yard field goal put the Patriots ahead 20 17 before Newton drove Carolina 83 yards on 13 plays for the go ahead touchdown.
Tom Brady did not go down without a fight. With 59 seconds and three timeouts to work with he drove the Patriots to the Carolina 18. But he was intercepted in the end zone by safety Robert Lester as time expired.
Officials initially threw a flag on the play apparently for pass interference but then waved it off.
Newton completed 19 of 28 passes for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Carolina entered the night as the N.F.L. s No. 1 defense and did not disappoint early sacking Brady twice and holding tight end Rob Gronkowski to one catch for 14 yards in the opening half.
Gronkowski scored in the third quarter on a terrific individual effort. He took a short pass from Brady then powered his way through three defenders to extend the ball over the goal line.
Newton found Brandon LaFell over the middle for a 9 yard touchdown pass late in the first quarter that capped a 90 yard drive. It included a 42 yard catch by Steve Smith against cornerback Aqib Talib who drew a personal foul penalty when he refused to let go of Smith s right foot after another Smith catch setting off a scuffle.
Graham Gano added a 43 yard field goal with 5 minutes 2 seconds left in the second that sent the Panthers into the locker room with the lead for the ninth time in 10 games this year.
Newton also had a third quarter touchdown pass to Greg Olsen.
CLAIM AGAINST OFFICIAL The N.F.L. is reviewing claims by the Washington Redskins that an official directed profanity at left tackle Trent Williams during Sunday s game with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Williams said he was called vulgar names by an official he identified as No. 81 late in the second quarter of the Redskins 24 16 loss. The number was worn by the umpire Roy Ellison.
Other players said they heard the words as well. A replay showed Ellison gesturing at Williams before a snap with Williams quarterback Robert Griffin III and tight end Niles Paul turning to look at Ellison.
I m at a loss for words Williams said afterward. You never expect that as a player going into the game to have to beef with the refs also.
After the game a pool reporter approached the officials bus to ask the head referee Walt Coleman for comment. The reporter said Coleman told the driver to roll up the window and the bus pulled away.
Microphones worn by some linemen could be used to verify what was said.
EMERGENCY SURGERY FOR BRONCO Denver Broncos safety Rahim Moore had emergency surgery Monday for lateral compartment syndrome which can cost patients a limb or kill them.
Moore is out indefinitely. He left the Broncos 27 17 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first half Sunday after being unable to accelerate on Jamaal Charles s 35 yard run. The Broncos said he had a lower leg injury.
During the night Moore called the team s trainer because he was experiencing pain and swelling and was directed to a doctor.
The syndrome develops when swelling or bleeding occurs within a compartment which the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says can be caused by athletic exertion. It is rarely seen in football players.
FAN S FALL INVESTIGATED The authorities in Erie County N.Y. said charges might be filed against an unruly fan who fell from the third deck of Ralph Wilson Stadium and landed on another man during the Buffalo Bills game against the Jets.
The authorities would not comment on the medical conditions of the men.
EX LINEBACKER DIES IN CRASH The former N.F.L. linebacker Thomas Howard died in a high speed car crash on a freeway in Oakland Calif. He was 30.
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment