Auburn NFL roundup: Cam Newton looks like his old self in victory over Patriots

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton had thrown no touchdowns and three interceptions in the previous two games. Last week’s showing was one of the worst of his NFL career. So with Newton coming back from offseason shoulder surgery, there was plenty of concern about his ability to rebound with the defending Super Bowl champion on deck for Carolina.

But on Sunday against the New England Patriots, the former Auburn star led the Panthers to a 33-30 victory on the road. Newton turned in his first game with at least three touchdown passes since Sept. 18, 2016, and tied an NFL record in the process.

Newton became the sixth player in NFL history to have three TD passes and a scoring run in a game six times. He joined Drew Brees, Jack Kemp, Tobin Rote, Billy Wade and Steve Young in accomplishing the feat.

“This was a statement game for us,” Newton said. “This game set the tone for the season moving forward.”

Newton completed 22-of-29 passes for 316 yards with three touchdowns and one interception against New England. Newton threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to running back Fozzy Whittaker in the second quarter and hit wide receiver Devin Funchess with a 10-yard pass with 26 seconds left in the first half and with a 16-yard pass with 2:47 left in the third quarter for TDs.

Newton also ran eight times for 44 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown run with 12:58 left in the game as the Panthers took 30-16 lead.

Newton’s rushing TD was the 50^th of his career, extending his record for the most by a quarterback in NFL history. Newton also extended his NFL record for having passing and rushing TDs in the same game to 36.

New England came back to tie the game, but Newton took Carolina on a 10-play, 46-yard drive that ended on Graham Gano’s 48-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

“You saw a guy that was as competitive as all get-out,” Carolina coach Ron Rivera said. “He knew he was playing against one of the all-time great quarterbacks in the league. He wanted to show that he could play with that guy. He really did. Tom Brady is a measuring stick for all quarterbacks. That’s why our guy wanted to come out and play well together.”

The victory was the 54^th in the regular season for Newton as Carolina’s starting quarterback, breaking a tie with Jake Delhomme for the most by a QB in the franchise’s history.

Newton was among the 20 former Auburn players who got on the field during the fourth Sunday of the NFL’s 2017 season.

Other former Auburn players who started on Sunday included:

• Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (Woodlawn) of the Arizona Cardinals made five tackles and broke up a pass in an 18-15 overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
• Right defensive end Carl Lawson of the Cincinnati Bengals had two quarterback hits in his first NFL start – a 31-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
• Right offensive tackle Shon Coleman and wide receiver Ricardo Louis of the Browns. With five receptions for 64 yards, including a 31-yarder, against the Bengals, Louis tied his career single-game high for catches and came within 1 yard of his career single-game best.
• Left offensive tackle Greg Robinson of the Detroit Lions.

Other former Auburn players seeing action on Sunday included:

• Cardinals linebacker Josh Bynes and defensive back Rudy Ford (New Hope). Bynes made two special-teams tackles against the 49ers.
• Atlanta Falcons long snapper Josh Harris.
• Panthers running back Cameron Artis-Payne played for the first time this season, but he did not carry the ball against the Patriots.
• Bengals defensive tackle Pat Sims and tight end C.J. Uzomah. After missing the first two games of the season with an injury, Uzomah had an 11-yard reception against the Browns for his first catch of the season. He also made two special-teams tackles.
• Houston Texans fullback Jay Prosch (UMS-Wright).
• Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Quan Bray returned five kickoffs for 83 yards in a 46-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
• Jacksonville Jaguars running back Corey Grant (Opelika) gained 9 yards on two carries, caught a pass that resulted in a 5-yard loss and returned a kickoff 20 yards in a 23-20 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
• Los Angeles Rams defensive back Blake Countess.
• Miami Dolphins place-kicker Cody Parkey got only one opportunity to kick the football – the second-half kickoff – in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
• Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones made two tackles on defense and one on special teams against the Panthers.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers Peyton Barber had two carries for 2 yards in a 25-23 victory over the New York Giants.
• Tennessee Titans linebacker Daren Bates.

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Browns wide receiver Sammie Coates (Leroy), Patriots safety Brandon King (Thompson) and Seahawks cornerback Neiko Thorpe were designated as inactive on Sunday.

On Monday night, the Washington Redskins will visit the Kansas City Chiefs at 7:30 CDT. ESPN will televise the game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.

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Seahawks use huge 2nd-half surge to rout Colts 46-18

It took a trio of relative unknowns to wake up the Seattle Seahawks.

J.D. McKissic took the second carry of his career 30 yards for a touchdown and Bobby Wagner scooped up Marcus Smith’s forced fumble and rumbled 21 yards for a score in a 13-second span late in the third quarter, and the Seahawks beat the Indianapolis Colts 46-18 on Sunday night.

Justin Coleman added a 28-yard interception return for a TD in the first half and Seattle overcame a sleepy first 30 minutes from its offense to finally put away the Colts.

“It was a terrific night. It just took us a while again. … We finally got going,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.

CenturyLink Field was left shaking after Wagner scooped up Smith’s forced fumble against quarterback Jacoby Brissett and weaved through tacklers for Seattle’s second defensive score and a 32-18 lead.

Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes and two interceptions, but his most important play was a 23-yard run in the third quarter to give Seattle an 18-15 lead. Adam Vinatieri pulled the Colts even at 18 as the Colts capitalized on Wilson’s second interception. Graham dropped a catchable pass and it was intercepted by Malik Hooker , his third straight game with an interception.

But Seattle answered with a 75-yard drive that was capped by McKissic’s touchdown sprint. Wilson added TD passes of 6 yards to Luke Willson and 27 yards to McKissic in the fourth quarter and the Seahawks outscored Indianapolis 36-3 in the second half.

Doug Baldwin said.

Seattle’s win came appeared to come with a big blow in the final minutes when starting running back Chris Carson sustained a left leg injury. Trainers immediately placed an air cast on Carson’s leg and he was carted off the field. Carroll said Carson’s injury was significant.

Brissett threw an 18-yard strike to Donte Moncrief late in the first half to give the Colts the lead. Brissett was 16 of 29 for 157 yards and was sacked three times. The biggest play turned out to be Smith’s sack, knocking the ball from Brissett’s hands just before his arm moved forward as Seattle suddenly took a 14-point lead.

“They just outplayed us big time in the second half. We didn’t do a good job of adjusting. That’s on me,” Indianapolis coach Chuck Pagano said. “We’re a lot better than that, but it’s going to be the same old song and dance if we don’t get things cleaned up.”

RECORD WATCH

Frank Gore finished with 46 yards rushing, leaving him 4 yards short of passing Eric Dickerson for seventh on the career rushing list.

RETIREMENT CEREMONY

New Hall of Famer Kenny Easley had his No. 45 retired by the Seahawks at halftime. Easley is the fourth player and the fifth number overall retired by the franchise, an honor held specifically for those players elected to the Hall of Fame. The Seahawks also have the No. 12 retired in honor of the fans.

Easley was the senior committee selection for induction to the Hall of Fame this year.

INJURIES:

Colts: Center Deysahawn Boyd, already filling in for injured starter Ryan Kelly, was hurt on the second play of the game and did not return. Boyd suffered a knee injury. Adam Redmond took over for Boyd.

Seahawks: Defensive end Cliff Avril left in the first half with a neck injury and did not return. Avril appeared to lose feeling in his hands. He tweeted later that he was OK. Nickel cornerback Jeremy Lane was lost on the first drive of the game to a groin injury.

UP NEXT

Colts: Indianapolis faces another NFC West opponent, hosting San Francisco.

Seahawks: Seattle plays its second NFC West game of the season, traveling to the Los Angeles Rams.

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