Newton leads two scoring drives as Panthers top Titans

CAROLINA 26 TENNESSEE 16

NASHVILLE — Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series Saturday, and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-16 in a preseason game.

The game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning late in the third quarter.

Newton went eight of 12 before leaving midway through the second period. He opened the game by leading a 93-yard drive that included Ted Ginn Jr.’s 61-yard touchdown reception.

Ginn caught Newton’s pass about 10 yards downfield. Antwon Blake missed a tackle as soon as the catch was made, then Ginn outraced the other Titans to the end zone.

That opening series also featured two completions to Kelvin Benjamin, who missed the 2015 season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament after catching 73 passes for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns his rookie season. Benjamin caught a 16-yard pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage and had a 13-yard reception on a thirdand-7.

Newton also led a 49-yard drive that ended with Graham Gano’s 41-yard field goal.

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota directed three series and went 9 of 10 for 104 yards with one touchdown and an interception. On his final pass, Mariota rolled right and found Harry Douglas in the right corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.

Mariota is 14 of 15 through two preseason games.

Carolina’s listed first-team cornerbacks were rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley, but two other cornerbacks intercepted passes Saturday. Bene Benwikere started Saturday’s game at nickel and picked off Mariota’s pass in the first quarter. Zack Sanchez intercepted Matt Cassel’s pass that was deflected by linebacker A.J. Klein. The Panthers are retooling the cornerback position after All-Pro Josh Norman signed with the Washington Redskins and Charles Tillman retired.

Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe strengthened his bid for a starting spot, as the fifth-round pick from Massachusetts had six catches for 68 yards while Mariota was in the game. The Titans shook up their receiving group Tuesday by trading 2015 second-round pick Dorial GreenBeckham to the Philadelphia Eagles for offensive lineman Dennis Kelly.