Newton gets better of Griffin as Panthers top 'Skins
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cam Newton threw for 201 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for another score, as the Carolina Panthers upended the Washington Redskins, 21-13, in Week 9 action.
DeAngelo Williams also crossed the goal line on a rush and Jonathan Stewart totaled 51 yards on 10 carries for the Panthers (2-6), who snapped a five-game losing skid and spoiled the hosts' Homecoming celebration.
"I think it was ridiculous, that this was their homecoming, and it was a situation that was embarrassing," Williams said. "It was definitely motivating. You don't do that in the NFL, you do it in college."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Steve Smith contributed 41 yards and a TD reception on three catches.
Robert Griffin III finished 23-of-39 passing for 215 yards, adding 53 yards on 11 carries for the Redskins (3-6), losers in three straight contests.
Evan Royster posted the lone Washington touchdown and Kai Forbath booted two field goals in defeat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"You lose a game like this, you're definitely evaluating who will be on this football team for years to come," said Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. "I'll get a good chance to see where we're at."
Down by 15 points, the Redskins embarked on a final push with the ball at their own 40 after a missed field goal and 4:22 remaining in regulation. Griffin had a three-yard dash to the end zone wiped out by a holding call with 1:57 to play, and a late hit on his rush to the right sideline on the next play preceded an illegal formation call which negated another potential score.
Two plays later, Royster ran in from the two for his first pro touchdown and pulled Washington to 21-13 with 1:28 to go.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Forbath attempted an onside kick, but Smith cradled the ball near midfield. Carolina wasted all but 17 seconds off the clock in moving the ball four yards, then stuffed Redskins' Brandon Banks on the final play of regulation for a nine yard loss.
"Times have been tough, but this was a huge morale thing," Smith admitted.
Forbath's 47-yard make capped Washington's first series of the contest, one which chewed up 6:45 of the clock and moved 68 yards, providing the hosts with a 3-0 edge.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Carolina countered on the following series, needing seven plays to take a 7-3 lead after Williams tiptoed his way down the right sideline for a 30-yard score.
The Redskins reached the Panthers' 2-yard line with just over five minutes to play in the half, but Griffin's rush on 4th-and-goal was halted well short of the goal line.
On the ensuing possession, Smith's leaping grab of a Newton pass for a 19-yard touchdown made it 14-3 with 57 seconds left before halftime and punctuated a 98-yard march.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Forbath's 25-yarder cut Washington's deficit to 14-6 with 6:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, Newton floated a ball on the left side for Armanti Edwards, who raced 82 yards to the hosts' 9-yard line. Two plays later, a defensive pass interference call placed the ball at the one, and Newton dove over the goal line on the next down for a 21-6 game.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Newton completed 13-of-23 passes and rushed for 37 yards ... Though Washington has won 7 of the 11 all-time meetings, Carolina has taken 4 of the last 5 matchups since 2003 ... Sunday's clash marked the first time ever that back- to-back Heisman Trophy winners faced each other in the following season that both played in the NFL.