Auburn NFL roundup: Cam Newton looks like his old self in victory over Patriots
October 2, 2017 by admin
Filed under Choosing Lingerie
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had thrown no touchdowns and three interceptions in the previous two games. Last week’s showing was one of the worst of his NFL career. So with Newton coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, there was plenty of concern about his ability to rebound with the defending Super Bowl champion on deck for Carolina.
But on Sunday against the New England Patriots, the former Auburn star led the Panthers to a 33-30 victory on the road. Newton turned in his first game with at least three touchdown passes since Sept. 18, 2016, and tied an NFL record in the process.
Newton became the sixth player in NFL history to have three TD passes and a scoring run in a game six times. He joined Drew Brees, Jack Kemp, Tobin Rote, Billy Wade and Steve Young in accomplishing the feat.
“This was a statement game for us,” Newton said. “This game set the tone for the season moving forward.”
Newton completed 22-of-29 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns and one interception against New England. Newton threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Fozzy Whittaker in the second quarter and hit wide receiver Devin Funchess with a 10-yard pass with 26 seconds left in the first half and with a 16-yard pass with 2:47 left in the third quarter for TDs.
Newton also ran eight times for 44 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run with 12:58 left in the game as the Panthers took 30-16 lead.
Newton’s rushing TD was the 50th of his career, extending his record for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. Newton also extended his NFL record for having passing and rushing TDs in the same game to 36.
New England came back to tie the game, but Newton took Carolina on a 10-play, 46-yard drive that ended on Graham Gano’s 48-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
“You saw a guy that was as competitive as all get-out,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “He knew he was playing against one of the all-time great quarterbacks in the league. He wanted to show that he could play with that guy. He really did. Tom Brady is a measuring stick for all quarterbacks. That’s why our guy wanted to come out and play well together.”
The victory was the 54th in the regular season for Newton as Carolina’s starting quarterback, breaking a tie with Jake Delhomme for the most by a QB in the franchise’s history.
Newton was among the 20 former Auburn players who got on the field during the fourth Sunday of the NFL’s 2017 season.
Other former Auburn players who started on Sunday included:
- Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (Woodlawn) of the Arizona Cardinals made five tackles and broke up a pass in an 18-15 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
- Right defensive end Carl Lawson of the Cincinnati Bengals had two quarterback hits in his first NFL start – a 31-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
- Right offensive tackle Shon Coleman and wide receiver Ricardo Louis of the Browns. With five receptions for 64 yards, including a 31-yarder, against the Bengals, Louis tied his career single-game high for catches and came within 1 yard of his career single-game best.
- Left offensive tackle Greg Robinson of the Detroit Lions.
Other former Auburn players seeing action on Sunday included:
- Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes and defensive back Rudy Ford (New Hope). Bynes made two special-teams tackles against the 49ers.
- Atlanta Falcons long snapper Josh Harris.
- Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne played for the first time this season, but he did not carry the ball against the Patriots.
- Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims and tight end C.J. Uzomah. After missing the first two games of the season with an injury, Uzomah had an 11-yard reception against the Browns for his first catch of the season. He also made two special-teams tackles.
- Houston Texans fullback Jay Prosch (UMS-Wright).
- Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Quan Bray returned five kickoffs for 83 yards in a 46-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
- Jacksonville Jaguars running back Corey Grant (Opelika) gained 9 yards on two carries, caught a pass that resulted in a 5-yard loss and returned a kickoff 20 yards in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
- Los Angeles Rams defensive back Blake Countess.
- Miami Dolphins place-kicker Cody Parkey got only one opportunity to kick the football – the second-half kickoff – in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
- Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones made two tackles on defense and one on special teams against the Panthers.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Peyton Barber had two carries for 2 yards in a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants.
- Tennessee Titans linebacker Daren Bates.
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Browns wide receiver Sammie Coates (Leroy), Patriots safety Brandon King (Thompson) and Seahawks cornerback Neiko Thorpe were designated as inactive on Sunday.
On Monday night, the Washington Redskins will visit the Kansas City Chiefs at 7:30 CDT. ESPN will televise the game.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
