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A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 15 november 2017
Newton, Panthers hammer Dolphins 45-21 for 3rd straight win
Monday night games, while Ed Dickson on a 7-yard
By STEVE REED averaging 270.5 yards per touchdown pass. That
AP Sports Writer game with 15 touchdowns opened the floodgates as
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — and four interceptions. the Panthers scored touch-
Cam Newton was tired “There is something about downs on five straight pos-
of the Carolina Panthers’ this stage with him,” Rivera sessions in their most explo-
defense getting all of the said. “He played a tremen- sive output of the season.
glory. dous game.” “In an eight-minute span,
Newton took it as a chal- Jonathan Stewart ran for the game got away from
lenge when the defense a season-high 110 yards, us,” Dolphins coach Adam
vaulted to the league’s No. and Newton had a 69-yard Gase said. “It snowballed.
1 ranking last week, saying jaunt on a read option as We couldn’t prevent the
it was time for the offense the Panthers racked up big runs once they got
to strive to match them. 294 yards on the ground. It going.”The Panthers had
Newton did his part on was Stewart’s first 100-yard entered the game 21st in
Monday night, throwing for game since last December the league in total offense
254 yards and four touch- at Washington. and 24th in scoring.
downs and running for 95 Rookie Christian McCaf- “We get to watch them —
more as the Panthers piled frey scored touchdowns that’s the fun part,” Kuech-
up a franchise-record 548 Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton (1) scrambles under rushing and receiving, and ly said of the offense.
yards in a 45-21 rout of the pressure from Miami Dolphins’ Ndamukong Suh (93) in Devin Funchess caught five It was a big game for Stew-
Miami Dolphins. the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., passes for 92 yards and art, who fumbled twice in
“It’s nice to see them Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. two touchdowns as the last week’s 20-17 win over
have this type of breakout Associated Press Panthers (7-3) remained a the Atlanta Falcons.
game,” Panthers coach of 14 third downs. offense. We have to trust in half-game behind the NFC “He might have been play-
Ron Rivera said of the of- Said Newton: “I still feel like our ability to execute our South-leading Saints head- ing with a chip on his shoul-
fense, which had 30 first we are scratching the sur- coach’s plan.” ing into their bye week. der, but we just wanted
downs and converted 11 face of our potential in this Newton improved to 5-1 in Newton had his share of to get him to that second
fun on the field. level,” Panthers offensive
After being tackled on his tackle Matt Kalil said.
69-yard run, an exhausted The Dolphins have put
Newton laid on the ground themselves in a difficult situ-
smiling and shaking his ation in a tight AFC playoff
body as if trying to get feel- race.“There are pieces in
ing back into his legs. the locker room. I truly be-
Teammates joked with lieve that,” Cutler said.
Newton that backup quar- McCAFFREY STARTS
terback Derek Anderson The Panthers gave McCaf-
could have scored on the frey the start at running
play.“When you ain’t got back over Stewart, who
no gas left and your check fumbled twice last week
engine light is on and blink- against the Falcons. Mc-
ing, get gas at the next stop Caffrey didn’t let them
or so, man, you just have to down, combining for 50
try to celebrate when you yards and two scores, in-
can celebrate, brother,” cluding a nifty 4-yard
Newton said. “I was just touchdown run where he
hoping coach didn’t come faked out two Miami de-
back with another run play fenders.
for me.”He tiredly handed McDONALD RETURNS
off on the next two plays. Dolphins safety T.J. McDon-
“Everything was fun out ald returned to the start-
there,” said Funchess, who ing lineup after serving an
became the team’s No. 1 eight-game suspension for
receiver when Kelvin Ben- violating the league’s sub-
jamin was traded to Buffalo stance abuse policy, but it
two weeks ago. didn’t help the struggling
Jay Cutler had 213 yards Dolphins defense.
passing with two touch- DRAKE’S BIG RUN
downs and one intercep- Kenyan Drake provided
tion for the Dolphins (4- the big play for the Dol-
5), who have lost three phins, breaking free for a
straight. Jarvis Landry and 66-yard touchdown run in
Julian Thomas both caught the third quarter.
TD passes for Miami. NEWTON’S NUMBERS
The game turned with 41 Newton passed Dan Ma-
seconds left in the first half, rino for the third-most total
when Luke Kuechly made yards (passing and rush-
a leaping interception ing) in a quarterback’s
along the sideline with Car- first seven seasons. New-
olina leading 10-7. ton trails only Peyton Man-
Four plays later, Newton ning and Matt Ryan in that
connected with tight end category.q
