Monday 9 October 2017 07:09, UK
Cam Newton was focused back on football and threw three touchdowns to help the Carolina Panthers beat the Detroit Lions 27-24 on the road on Sunday.
The Panthers (4-1) scored 24 straight points after trailing the Lions 10-3 early in the second quarter. Detroit rallied to within three late in the fourth, but could not stop Newton on his last drive to get the ball back.
Newton came under fire for making sexist comments to a female reporter this week. He later apologised after losing an endorsement deal and getting criticised by the NFL.
Back on the field, he was impressive, completing 26 of his 33 passing attempts for a season-high 335 yards. On perhaps the game's key play, with two minutes remaining, he converted a third-and-19 from the Carolina 24 with a sharp, 17-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin.
Earlier, Newton threw a six-yard TD pass to rookie Christian McCaffrey to tie the game at 10-10 and then a 10-yard pass to Devin Funchess for a second score with 48 seconds left in the first half. Then, with a perfectly lofted 31-yard pass to Benjamin, the 2015 NFL MVP put Carolina up 24-10 early in the third quarter.
Detroit (3-2) struggled to move the ball in the air and on the ground until late in the game - Matthew Stafford, limping after being sacked several times and hit on other plays, threw two TDs to Darren Fells in the final quarter, but the hosts left their comeback too late.
Elsewhere in the other early games in the NFL....
Jaguars 30-9 Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger turned in his worst home performance in more than 11 years as Jacksonville (3-2) intercepted five passes to defeat Pittsburgh (3-2).
The Jaguars returned two of Roethlisberger's interceptions for touchdowns - Telvin Smith for 28 yards and Barry Church for 51 - on back-to-back Steelers possessions in the third quarter.
Chargers 27-22 Giants
Quarterback Philip Rivers threw three touchdown passes, two in the second half, to lead Los Angeles (1-4) past winless New York (0-5).
The Chargers' winning score came after defensive end Melvin Ingram sacked and stripped Giants quarterback Eli Manning to give Los Angeles the ball on the 11-yard line. Three plays later, Rivers found running back Melvin Gordon for a 10-yard TD.
Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. broke his left ankle in the game and will need surgery.
Cardinals 7-34 Eagles
Quarterback Carson Wentz threw a career-high four touchdown passes as Philadelphia (4-1) rolled to a third straight win.
Wentz was 21 of 30 for 304 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. He had never before thrown more than two touchdowns in an NFL game.
Bills 16-20 Bengals
Andy Dalton passed for 328 yards and A.J. Green had 189 receiving yards and a touchdown, lifting Cincinnati (2-3) past visiting Buffalo (3-2).
The Bengals are the first team this season to score more than 17 points against the Bills. The defence also impressed, sacking QB Tyrod Taylor six times.
49ers 23-26 Colts (OT)
Adam Vinatieri kicked four field goals, including a 51-yarder with just over a minute remaining in overtime to see Indianapolis (2-3) edge out the still winless San Francisco (0-5).
Jets 17-14 Browns
Cleveland (0-5) also stayed winless on the season as New York (3-2) quarterback Josh McCown threw two second-half touchdown passes to see the Jets win a third straight.
The Browns replaced rookie QB DeShone with Kevin Hogan during the game, and he had earlier given Cleveland their first lead of the season as tight end David Njoku pulled in a stunning one-handed TD.
Titans 10-16 Dolphins
Jarvis Landry scored the go-ahead touchdown as Miami (2-2) turned over Tennessee (2-3). The Dolphins' defense had six sacks in the win.
