Heinicke, Washington spoil Newton’s homecoming 27-21

CHARLOTTE, N. C. (AP) — Taylor Heinicke was by far the lesser-known of the two quarterbacks making their return to Charlotte on Sunday.

But it was Heinicke who upstaged Cam Newton by throwing for 206 yards and three touchdowns against the league’s topranked pass defense, helping Washington spoil the 2015 MVP’s return to Bank of America Stadium with a 27-21 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Terry McLaurin had five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown as Washington (4-6) piled up 369 yards of offense.

Heinicke said winning at Carolina “didn’t mean that much” to him personally because he only spent one season here in 2018. But he knows it was important to his teammates and coaches who have ties to Carolina, including coach Ron Rivera, who was 76-63-1 in nine seasons with the Panthers and led them to an NFC title in 2015 with Newton at quarterback.

“To know we were going to win with those last two kneel- downs was nice,” Heinicke said.

Washington’s players presented Rivera with a game ball.

“I felt good. I really did,” said Rivera, who was cheered by the crowd before the game. “It was fun. And it would’ve been disappointing if it went the other way.”

Newton is hoping to help steer the Panthers (56) toward a playoff run in his first start since returning to Carolina, where he spent nine previous seasons.

And he provided some big moments, throwing for 189 yards and two touchdowns and running for a 24-yard score that he celebrated by running to the team’s logo at midfield, slamming down the ball and doing his Superman impersonation by pretending to rip open his jersey.

But Newton’s final two potential game-winning drives ended when the Panthers turned the ball over on downs. Daron Payne and James Smith-Williams sacked Newton with 1:11 left to seal the game for Washington.