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SPORTSSaturday 12 December 2015
Newton, Panthers Look to Top Falcons, Clinch 1st-Round Bye
Continued from page 17 Some of Newton’s pass- staunch defense was blis-
ing numbers — he’s 15th tered in Buffalo, and needs
Despite lacking a true No. in the NFL in passer rat- a quick turnaround against
1 wide receiver — Kelvin ing (93.2), 18th in passing Tom Brady.
Benjamin was lost in train- yards (2,797) and 29th in Of course, with JJ Watt on
ing camp to a season-end- completion percentage their side, that could hap-
ing knee injury — Newton (58.4) — may cost him an pen for the Texans, though
has thrown a career-high opportunity to beat out Watt is playing with a bro-
25 touchdown passes. He’s New England’s Tom Brady ken left hand.
also a major factor in Car- or Arizona’s Carson Palmer If Denver wins the rest of
olina’s third-ranked ground or any other candidates. its games, it stays at home
attack with 478 yards Regardless, Newton has for the AFC playoffs. That
rushing and seven touch- found a way to win, unde- won’t be easy with match-
downs. feated in his last 15 starts ups against the Pittsburgh
and 12 this season. Steelers and Cincinnati
Bengals coming up.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Connor Barwin (98) sacks New But with a defense that
England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during the first half ranks first overall and
of an NFL football game, in Foxborough, Mass. The Eagles beat against the pass, has 41
the Patriots, 35-28. sacks, and has yielded few-
er points (210) than anyone
(AP Photo/Steven Senne) but Cincinnati, the Broncos
will be in every game. On
“It feels like he went through 20 on Thursday for their sev- Sunday, they welcome the
another ceiling, and that’s Oakland Raiders, against
what I see so far in the film enth straight victory, and whom they have won
this year,” Atlanta Falcons eight straight.
coach Dan Quinn said. secured a playoff spot. Oakland’s inexperience
Newton admitted this week has hurt it in the last month,
he always gets a little more Should Seattle lose at Bal- with the Raiders dropping
hyped against his home- four of five games.
town Falcons. But he’ll face timore on Sunday, the NFC Nothing would suit the
an old nemesis in Quinn, a Bengals more than walking
former defensive coordi- West would belong to the off with the AFC North by
nator with the Seattle Se- sweeping the season series
ahawks. Quinn has found Cardinals. with the Steelers. Indeed,
ways to slow down Newton even if Pittsburgh wins this
in the past and limit his ef- New England goes to the one, its chances of sur-
fectiveness with the read passing Cincinnati are not
option, often frustrating the Houston Texans, and both strong.
quarterback. The Steelers have won their
Also this weekend, the New sides need to make state- last eight games in Decem-
England Patriots, Denver ber and their offense is on
Broncos, and Arizona Car- ments. fire: 30 points in four straight
dinals are on the verge of games for the first time in
grabbing division crowns. For the Patriots, it’s a club history. They could
The Cardinals defeated meet their match, though,
the Minnesota Vikings 23- chance to show they won’t because the Bengals have
allowed the fewest points
keep sliding with a myriad in the league with 196.q
of injuries and a dangerous
penchant for allowing big
plays. Their second straight
defeat last week, against
Philadelphia, featured
three returns for touch-
downs by the Eagles.
Houston is tied with India-
napolis for the AFC South
lead and visits the Colts
next week. The Texans’
Donaldson still leading in Thailand by 2 stokes
CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — Garcia featured in a three- Thursday but merely solid.
Jamie Donaldson of Wales man group tied for third at “There wasn’t really any
leads the Thailand Cham- 9 under. highlight for me,” he said.
pionship into the weekend Donaldson started on the “I just hit good iron shots
by two shots over Martin back nine and made four towards the greens, and
Kaymer after the second birdies, but ran into trouble gave myself a lot of good
round on Friday. on the front nine with three chances for birdies. I didn’t
Donaldson carded a 4-un- birdies and three bogeys. miss many putts.”
der-par 68 to lie at 13 un- “You need to keep the mo- Garcia also struggled in the
der in the Asian Tour event mentum going and I man- heat on his back nine and
at Amata Spring Country aged to do that today,” he shot a 69, to tie with Mat-
Club. said. thew Fitzpatrick of England
Kaymer, the runner-up last “It was a great tempera- (67), and Chinnarat Pha-
year, sank eight birdies ture at the start of the day dungsil of Thailand (69).
against a single bogey on but it got really hot on my Defending champion Lee
the 14th hole, for a second back nine which is the front Westwood improved with
round of 65 and two-day nine.” a 68 after his opening 71,
total at 11 under. Kaymer thought his round to be eight shots behind
Former champion Sergio was an improvement on Donaldson.q
