Cam Newton passed for five touchdowns, capped by a 15-yard scoring strike to Jerricho Cotchery with 1 minute, 5 seconds to go, as the unbeaten Carolina Panthers wrapped up the NFC South title with a 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
Carolina, the only remaining unbeaten team in the NFL, has the ninth 12-0 start in league history.
Newton, who was 28-of-41 for 331 yards, twice had to lead the Panthers back from fourth-quarter deficits as the Saints (4-8) tried desperately to avoid a four-game losing streak. Jonathan Stewart had a five-yard scoring run on a pitch from Newton.
Photo: AFP
Drew Brees passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns. Saints linebacker Stephone Anthony returned a fumble 31 yards for a score and also became the first NFL player to return a blocked extra-point kick for two points in NFL history.
EAGLES 35, PATRIOTS 28
Najee Goode scored on a blocked punt and Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception 99 yards for another touchdown as Philadelphia held on for an improbable victory over New England.
Darren Sproles returned a punt 83 yards for the Eagles’ second special-teams touchdown, giving Philadelphia a 21-point lead before the Patriots came charging back.
Tom Brady threw for a touchdown to make it a two-score game and then, after an onside kick, ran it in from the one-yard line to cut it to seven points with three minutes left.
New England’s second onside kick failed, but the Patriots (10-2) forced a third-down fumble to give Brady one more chance.
The comeback fell short when Brady’s passes bounced out of his receivers’ hands.
CARDINALS 27, RAMS 3
Running backs David Johnson and Kerwynn Williams scored a touchdown apiece as Arizona stuffed St Louis.
Johnson, a rookie, had 99 yards on 22 carries in his first start and caught one of two touchdown passes by Carson Palmer, who led an offense that rolled up 524 yards. Williams scored his first career touchdown on a 35-yard run.
Larry Fitzgerald made his 1,000th reception and topped 1,000 yards for the seventh time.
STEELERS 45, COLTS 10
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 364 yards and four touchdowns as Pittsburgh overwhelmed Indianapolis.
Antonio Brown caught eight passes for 118 yards and two scores, and also returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown for the Steelers (7-5).
Martavis Bryant hauled in four passes for 114 yards and a score, and DeAngelo Williams added 134 yards rushing, as Pittsburgh shook off a slow start to dominate the Colts over the final three quarters.
Roethlisberger has 886 yards passing and 10 touchdowns in his last two starts against Indianapolis.
Matt Hasselbeck threw for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions before leaving in the fourth quarter because of neck and shoulder pain. The Colts remain tied with Houston for the lead in the AFC North.
In other games, it was:
‧ Chiefs 34, Raiders 20
‧ Broncos 17, Chargers 3
‧ 49ers 26, Bears 20, OT
‧ Jets 23, Giants 20, OT
‧ Seahawks 38, Vikings 7
‧ Bills 30, Texans 21
‧ Titans 42, Jaguars 39
‧ Bengals 37, Browns 3
‧ Buccaneers 23, Falcons 19
‧ Dolphins 15, Ravens 13
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