Newton, Panthers cruise on
QB, tight end Olsen have stellar days in win over New Orleans.
In one of the most complete efforts of his five-year career, Cam Newton completed 20-of31 passes for 315 yards with a pair of touchdowns to tight end Greg Olsen and also ran for a score as the host Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-22 on Sunday.
“Outstanding,” coach Ron Rivera said of Newton’s performance. “He made a lot of good decisions.”
Newton ran for a 13-yard TD on a bootleg as the Panthers started 3-0 for the first time since reaching the Super Bowl in the 2003 season.
Olsen had eight catches for a career-high 134 yards and had two 11-yard TD catches.
Luke McCown, starting in place of the injured Drew Brees, completed 31-of-38 passes for 310 yards but it wasn’t enough to save the Saints (0-3) from falling three games back in the NFC South.
It was the first game Brees has missed because of injury since joining the Saints in 2006.
Panthers cornerback Josh Norman sealed the game with a leaping interception in the end zone with 1:09 remaining.
Newton said after the game he was upset over what he felt was a late hit by Saints defensive tackle Tyeler Davison — but was more baffled by the explanation he said he got from referee Ed Hochuli.
“The response that I got was, ‘Cam you’re not old enough to get that call,’” Newton said after the game. “I’m looking at him like, ‘What? Geez, I didn’t think you had to have seniority to get a personal foul or anything like that.’”
NFL spokesman Michael Signora said that “officials make decisions based upon the play on the field, and no other factors.”
Cardinals 47, 49ers 7
Carson Palmer threw for 311 yards and host Arizona (3-0)
returned two of Colin Kaepernick’s first four passes for TDs during a rout of San Francisco (1-2).
Larry Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 134 yards and two TDs and Chris Johnson rushed for 110 yards and two scores for the Cardinals, who won at Chicago 48-23 last week.
Seahawks 26, Bears 0
Tyler Lockett returned the second-half kickoff 105 yards for a TD, Russell Wilson connected with Jimmy Graham on a 30-yard TD, and host Seattle (1-2) overwhelmed Chicago (0-3). Lockett’s return was the longest in franchise history, and Steven Hauschka added four field goals.
Eagles 24, Jets 17
Darren Sproles returned a punt 89 yards for a score and added a 1-yard TD run, and Philadelphia (1-2) dealt host New York (2-1) its first loss.
The Eagles improved to 10-0 all-time against the Jets. New York’s Ryan Fitzpatrick threw TD passes to Brandon Marshall and Jeremy Kerley, but was intercepted three times.
Vikings 31, Chargers 14
Adrian Peterson plowed through San Diego’s defense for 126 yards and two TDs on 20 rushes in three quarters, and host Minnesota (2-1) trampled the injury-depleted Chargers (1-2).
Sacked four times for a loss of 28 yards, Philip Rivers went 21 for 34 for 246 yards with two turnovers and took a hard hit to the midsection from Anthony Barr in the third quarter.
Steelers 12, Rams 6
Le’Veon Bell scored from a yard out in the first half in his first game back after a suspension, and Will Allen’s interception with 1:56 left set up a field goal for Pittsburgh (2-1). The host Rams (1-2) were limited to two field goals by Greg Zuerlein and have scored just 16 points the last two games.
Falcons 39, Cowboys 28
Devonta Freeman ran for 141 yards and three scores, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones connected for two TDs, and Atlanta (3-0) defeated host Dallas (2-1) in the Cowboys’ first game without Tony Romo and Dez Bryant.
It was the ninth straight loss for Dallas quarterback Brandon Weeden as a starter.
Raiders 27, Browns 20
Derek Carr threw two TD passes in the first half, Latavius Murray rushed for 139 yards and Oakland (2-1) beat Cleveland (1-2) to snap an 11-game road losing streak that dated to Nov. 17, 2013, and a 16-game Eastern time zone losing streak, dating to 2009. Cleveland’s Josh McCown passed for 341 yards, but was sacked five times.
Texans 19, Bucs 9
Ryan Mallett threw for threw for 228 yards and a TD, and Alfred Blue ran for 139 yards and a score as host Houston (1-2) got its first win.
Kyle Brindza, the kicker for Tampa Bay (1-2) made a 58-yard field goal in the second quarter, but missed three field goals and an extra point in the second half.
Bills 41, Dolphins 14
Tyrod Taylor threw for 277 yards and three TDs in his first NFL road start as Buffalo (2-1) rolled over host Miami (1-2). The Bills intercepted Ryan Tannehill three times in the first half and led 27-0 before the Dolphins scored in the third quarter.