Cam can! Newton tosses four TDs as Panthers roll
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cam Newton threw for 254 yards and four touchdowns, rookie Christian McCaffrey scored touchdowns rushing and receiving, and the Carolina Panthers crushed the Miami Dolphins 45-21 on Monday night for their third straight victory.
Jonathan Stewart ran for a season-high 110 yards and Newton added 95, including a 69-yard jaunt on a read option, as the Panthers racked up 294 yards on the ground.
Carolina set a franchise record with 548 yards from scrimmage.
Devin Funchess caught five passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers (7-3) remained a half-game behind the NFC South division leading Saints.
The Dolphins (4-5) have lost three straight.
The game turned with 41 seconds left in the first half when Luke Kuechly intercepted Jay Cutler with Carolina leading 10-7. Four plays later, Newton connected with Ed Dickson on a 7-yard touchdown pass, the first of five straight Carolina touchdown drives. understood if Marquise Goodwin didn’t want to play against the Giants.
Shanahan, who’s been coaching in the NFL for 14 seasons, has seen players lose loved ones in days leading up to games and knows the mental weight it can carry. The 49ers coach was ready to let his speedy receiver take time with his wife after she prematurely gave birth to their son, who then died of complications early Sunday morning.
But Goodwin decided to play, helping San Francisco get its first win of the season. He had an 83yard touchdown reception and threw a key block on another big scoring play, when he laid out a defensive back and allowed Garrett Celek to scamper into the end zone.
Goodwin later announced his family’s loss on social media.
“By the time I was able to talk to Marquise, he was hurting but he was adamant he wanted to play,” Shanahan said Monday. “For a guy to go through that, to have those emotions, to go the whole night before and really not sleeping very much and come out there and have some very pivotal plays in that game, and make a huge difference, it says a lot about the guy. Regardless of whether he played good or bad, the fact that he was out there and trying his hardest and trying to help was the most important.”
Shanahan said he first knew about the situation Saturday morning, when Goodwin told him that his wife, Morgan, was experiencing complications with the pregnancy. Shanahan allowed Goodwin to be with her Saturday night and then heard about the news Sunday morning.
“He was struggling with it for obvious reasons and he decided to play, which we were very grateful for,” Shanahan said. “He did a hell of a job for his wife yesterday, being there for her and helped out his family from that aspect. And also helped out his family here too. I think he helped out every side and was pretty impressive yesterday.”
Goodwin was clearly emotional while scoring the long touchdown Sunday. He blew a kiss toward the sky as he crossed the goal line before falling to his knees in the end zone. Teammates on the field, and some from the sideline, ran to lift him back to his feet and show support. — AP