Newton’s fifth TD gets Panthers to 12-0

New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Stephone Anthony (50) celebrates his touchdown with strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015.

But Carolina came right back on a 11-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in a 14 yard touchdown pass from Newton to Mike Tolbert.

Cam Newton threw five touchdown passes to keep the Panthers unbeaten in Sunday’s 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Carolina (12-0), which clinched the NFC South Division title for the third consecutive season before the game began, now has won its last 16 regular-season games, while the Saints (4-8) lost their fourth straight. “We’ve got to find ways moving forward not to put ourselves in this position”.

“We know what it’s like to be on the other side and scratch and claw”, Kalil said.

After winning three straight in October to get back to.500, the team has taken a nose dive and is now mired in a four-game losing streak.

In a year where the defending champion Patriots lineup is filled with starters pulled out of nowhere due to a litany of injuries, where the league’s starting quarterbacks included on Sunday a 40-year-old Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Schaub, and where a team with a record under. “I am really proud of what he did and the confidence with which he played”. Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Sports Chicago Bears outside linebacker Willie Young (97) and Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) sack San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) in the first quarter of their game at Soldier Field.

“I just think you see examples of this (upsets and near upsets) all over the league”, Carolina center Ryan Kalil said.

Drew Brees passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns for New Orleans.

Olsen said he made a clean catch, which was confirmed by replay officials after a Saints challenge.

The Panthers went back in front on Newton’s 45-yard pass to Ted Ginn Jr. Arizona played the game without their top two running backs, but it didn’t matter as the team still rushed for 175 yards against a good Rams defense.

But Brees’ next three attempts fell incomplete, including a deep pass for Cooks on fourth-and-10 with 15 seconds left, to allow the Panthers to extend their winning streak. Cooks has his second career game with over 100 yards…

Eleven penalties for 104 yards – six of them defensive penalties that led to automatic first downs, three of which were personal fouls and three of which occurred on third down, helping to extend two touchdown drives – were crippling. Cornerback Delvin Breaux returned a pick to the Carolina 20, but Kai Forbath missed a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Anthony scored when he ripped the ball away from Jonathan Stewart as the running back tried to push through a pile of players.

SAN DIEGO – Brock Osweiler threw for one touchdown and Danny Trevathan intercepted Philip Rivers and returned it 25 yards for a score, leading the Denver Broncos to a victory against hapless San Diego. The Saints were called for defensive holding and Newton found Corey Brown on the ensuing play for a 5-yard gain to the Saints 47-yard line.

“I knew it was good money”, Cotchery said after the game, per Panthers.com’s Max Henson. “I didn’t hear a whistle, and I kind of waited, then I kept going”.

So, Blake Bortles, congratulations on those 5 touchdown passes, Buck Allen…heck of an effort 12 catches for 107 yards with a 41 yard TD and another 63 yards rushing, but sorry no game ball for you.

Stewart scored on a 5-yard run shortly before halftime, but Graham Gano’s extra point kick was blocked by Kevin Williams and returned 82 yards by Anthony to give New Orleans a 16-13 lead.