Panthers QB Cam Newton’s passing? His running impressed Tom Coughlin

It’s become one of the most beloved trademarks of the still undefeated Carolina Panthers; quarterback Cam Newton giving a football to a child in the stands after a Panthers score.

Newton was once again unstoppable with 340 passing yards and five touchdowns to go with 100 yards amassed on the ground. Expect the good times to continue next week as the Panthers travel to take on a Falcons team that they walloped 38-0 in Week 14. The Panthers beat both the Packers and Seahawks this season.

It’s possible that any of the teams mentioned – or even an AFC team in the Super Bowl – could take down Carolina.

Newton talked about how the next game is “in a hostile environment in Atlanta”, but the Panthers just beat the Falcons, 38-0, a week ago. The Giants roared back with four touchdowns to tie it, 35-35. Before the game, Newton warmed up in the same style of cleat, adorned in red and green tones with white highlights.

“It shouldn’t have been a thriller, I can tell you that, ” Newton said after the game. “We’re just trying to find a way to get victories”. It’s great for us to be in a game like this – it’s kind of like our first dose of mini-games of what playoff football is going to be about. We have to create that killer instinct. “The Giants did an unbelievable job at the end, but for us we have to do better and we will do better”. The Cincinnati Bengals’ Jeremy Hill ran for two touchdowns, but had just 31 yards on 19 carries. Cornerback Josh Norman said he was tested for a concussion after taking a vicious hit from wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who was suspended largely because of the dirty play…. “I got a couple grey hairs”.

This time, Beckham was flagged for personal fouls three times.

After Carolina blew a 35-7 lead and allowed the New York Giants to tie the score with less than two minutes left, Newton led a 49-yard drive in the final 1:46 to set up the game-winning field goal by Graham Gano from 43 yards out. Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards said that this is the closest team he’s ever been a part of, and that the guys will do anything for each other.

That’s when Newton returned to slam the door, completing three passes for a total of 37 yards, and running twice for 12.

“We kept fighting and had a chance to win at the end”, Rodgers-Cromartie said. “But we haven’t been up to what we anticipated, any of us, fan base, myself, players, everybody”.

The outcome was briefly in doubt, but in the end, NY (or New Jersey, actually) proved to be Newton’s apple. They don’t pass the ball a lot, but they run it more than anyone, ranking second in rushing yards and touchdowns in the NFL.

Newton wasn’t the only quarterback to account for a fistful of touchdowns in Week 15. The only other receiver to match that during a four-game stretch? In a sense, Houston was 0-13. The most interceptions he’s thrown is 17 during his rookie season that saw him also make the Pro Bowl on the way to getting Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in a then record-setting season for a Rookie passer.

At 7-7, Houston is in sole possession of first place in the division.

The Giants are now 6-8.