Carolina Panthers rally for wild win over New Orleans to move to 12-0
Monday 7 December 2015 16:28, UK
Cam Newton threw five touchdown passes as the Carolina Panthers retained their unbeaten record with a wild 41-38 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Both teams went punch for punch at the Superdome, but it was Newton's late touchdown throw to Jerricho Cotchery that ensured the Panthers would move to 12-0 after earlier becoming the first team to secure a place in the post-season.
The NFC South champions, as they now are, fell into a 14-0 hole when Stephone Anthony recovered a fumble and ran it back 31 yards for New Orleans' second touchdown after Drew Brees had opened the scoring with a pass to a wide open Ben Watson.
Carolina pulled it back to 14-13 with Newton's 12-yard pass to Mike Tolbert and a five-yard run from Jonathan Stewart but Graham Gano's point after was blocked and run back by Anthony for a historic two-point play to make it 16-13.
Newton hit Ted Ginn Jr and Devin Funchess, both from 13 yards, to give Carolina a handy lead but Brees matched him with touchdown passes to Brandin Cooks and Brandon Coleman as the topsy-turvy game turned back towards New Orleans.
Ginn Jr hauled in a 45-yard bomb from Newton to make it 34-31 with 12 minutes remaining and Brees was picked off by Kurt Coleman as the Panthers tried to put an end to the game.
But they were unable to move the ball and the Saints got their nose back in front with 5:27 left on the clock when Mark Ingram found some space on the outside to rush over from nine yards out.
However Newton was in no mood to give Carolina's unbeaten record up and he marched them down the field, aided by a fine fourth down catch by Greg Olsen to keep their drive alive.
And with 70 seconds remaining they were back in front as Newton threw a laser into the endzone for veteran wideout Cotchery to haul in and make it 41-38.
Brees had one final drive to try and turn the game on its head again but after getting a first down to Cooks, his next three passes were incomplete to drop their record to 4-8 and all but end any hopes of a wildcard berth.
The Panthers went into the game knowing they had already won the NFC South title thanks to the Atlanta Falcons being beaten 23-19 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jameis Winston led the Bucs to victory with a pass to Mike Evans with 1:39 remaining putting them in front with the last score of the game. Winston earlier rushed for a touchdown, as did Doug Martin who had 95 yards on the ground.
