Carolina Panthers: Gano Lifts Cats Over New England
Jonathan Stewart makes Panthers history as Carolina survives a fourth-quarter rally with a game-winning, 48-yard field goal by Graham Gano.
The Carolina Panthers (3-1) travelled up to Foxboro, Mass. for Sunday afternoon’s game against New England (2-2) and edged out a win over the Patriots, 33-30.
After heading into halftime with a narrow 17-16 lead, the Panthers created separation by holding New England scoreless in the third quarter and extending the advantage with a touchdown from Cam Newton to Devin Funchess. Newton rushed for a seven-yard score early in the fourth before the Pats made a surge.
New England scored a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter on an eight-yard rush by Dion Lewis. Tom Brady tied the score at 30 with 3:09 remaining in regulation with a one-yard touchdown strike to Danny Amendola. However, Newton and the Panthers drove down to the NE 30 to set Graham Gano up for the game-winning, 48-yard field goal as time expired.
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Newton appeared more like his 2015 self, tossing for 316 yards and three touchdowns on 22-of-29 passing. The former Heisman Trophy winner also rushed eight times for 44 yards and one touchdown. Funchess caught two of Newton’s three scores through the air and finished with seven catches for 70 yards.
Jonathan Stewart carried the ball 14 times for 68 yards, and that was enough to give the 2008 first-round draft pick the Carolina Panthers’ career rushing yardage record. Stewart now sits at 6,868 yards in a Panthers’ uniform, unseating DeAngelo Williams (6,846) as the team’s all-time leading rusher.
Kelvin Benjamin finished the game with 104 yards on four catches, marking the fifth time he’s passed the century mark in his career. Fozzy Whittaker caught Newton’s only other touchdown pass and ended the game with 34 yards on three receptions.
Julius Peppers and Kawann Short reached Brady for a combined three sacks for a loss of 14 yards. Luke Kuechly led the team in tackles with 14.
The Panthers will travel to Ford Field next Sunday to take on the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
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