Panthers beat Saints to clinch NFC South, stay unbeaten
Panthers beat Saints to clinch NFC South, stay unbeaten
Newton passed for five touchdowns, capped by a 15-yard scoring strike to Jerricho Cotchery with 1:05 to go, and the Panthers clinched the NFC South with a 41-38 victory over the Saints on Sunday.
The Panthers have won 16 straight regular-season games, a streak that began at the Superdome last season.
“That is one of the things that we get out of this that we will certainly build on, that (Newton) was able to win a shootout and take a drive in the fourth quarter to give us a chance,” Carolina head coach Ron Rivera said after capturing his third successive division title.
Newton was ordered to undergo concussion testing during the third quarter, right after his 13-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. capped a touchdown drive during which he took a heavy hit from linebacker Michael Mauti.
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.