Cam Newton threw for 355 yards and three TDs, and converted a big third-and-9 with just over two minutes left to hold off the Lions
They said they didn’t think Cam Newton could beat them throwing the football. My, how wrong they were.
Newton threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns and converted a big third-and-9 play with just over two minutes left as the Carolina Panthers handed the Detroit Lions their second loss of the season, 27-24, at Ford Field on Sunday afternoon.
• Box score
Newton’s season-high passing day came against a Lions team that entered the day fourth in the NFL in scoring defense and had seven interceptions, tied for second most in the league.
Seidel: Eight takeaways from the Lions‘ loss to the Panthers
The Lions trailed 27-10 after three lackluster quarters, but rallied late as a hobbled Matthew Stafford threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Darren Fells.
Fells beat Shaq Thompson for a 20-yard touchdown with 3:22 to play, and then the defense pinned the Panthers in a third-and-9 at their own 24.
But Newton completed a dart of a 17-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin with under 2:30 to play, in front of Lions cornerback Darius Slay, and Newton took three knees after the two-minute warning to seal the victory.
Newton entered the game averaging 220.5 yards passing per game, and players spoke this week about containing his rushing ability.
“We just got to be on our A game,” defensive tackle Akeem Spence said. “He’s not unbeatable. We seen Von Miller and the guys do it in the Super Bowl, so we just fluster him in the pass game, fluster him in the run game to where he’s one dimensional and I don’t think he can beat us throwing the ball.“
Stafford completed 23-for-35 for 229 yards and was sacked six times. He hobbled badly during most of the fourth quarter and at one point sat on the bench while trainers wrapped his right ankle heavily with tape.
Fells caught two passes, touchdowns of 20 and 4 yards for the Lions, who fell to 3-2 on the season.
Tight end Ed Dickson led the Panthers with five catches for 175 yards, including gains of 57 and 64 yards in the first half to set up Carolina’s first two scores.
At 4-1, the Panthers are tied for the lead in the NFC.
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Download our Lions Xtra app for free on Apple and Android!
