Share
LANDOVER, Md. -- The Carolina Panthers found Armanti Edwards and they found a victory.
Keyed by a long fourth-quarter reception by Edwards, the Panthers ended a five-game losing streak, beating the Washington Redskins 21-13 Sunday at FedEx Field.
Nursing a 14-6 lead and backed up at their own 9-yard line early in the fourth quarter, the Panthers suddenly flipped the game on one play. Edwards, in due to injuries to Brandon LaFell and Kealoha Pilares, broke open just short of midfield and Cam Newton found him.
Edwards went 82 yards -- from one 9-yard line to the other -- setting up a 1-yard Newton scoring run two plays later as the Panthers built their lead to 21-6.
Until Sunday, Edwards had produced a total of 24 total offense yards in two-plus seasons. But it all changed with one quick strike.
The play overshadowed what was expected to be a duel between Newton and Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. Griffin completed 22 of 38 passes for 224 yards while rushing 11 times for 53 yards. Newton, meanwhile, completed 13 of 23 passes for 201 yards. He also gained 37 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Washington cut the Panthers' lead to 21-13 with 1:28 remaining on a two-yard Evan Royster touchdown.
The Panthers' defense came up with a goal-line stand in the second quarter and the offense turned it into a 98-yard scoring drive that gave the Panthers a 14-3 half-time lead. Newton hit Steve Smith on a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Carolina a 14-3 lead at the break.
It was the first touchdown catch of the season for Smith, who beat Josh Wilson on the fade route.
The Panthers were holding a 7-3 lead when the Redskins opted against a Kai Forbath field goal and went for the end zone. The Redskins, who lead the league in fourth-down conversions, had already converted two fourth downs on the drive when they kept the offense on the field for a fourth-and-goal from the 2. Griffin ran right, but was forced out of bounds by safety Charles Godfrey and backup cornerback Josh Thomas for no gain with 5:13 left before halftime.
The Redskins held the ball for 16 plays and more than 10 minutes on the drive, but came away with no points. On their ensuing possession, the Panthers took advantage of a couple of Washington penalties to move into scoring position. After a couple of completions, Newton threw a perfect pass to Smith for the 11-point lead. Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams, the subject of trade talks leading to last week's deadline, gave the Panthers a 7-3 lead with a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Washington scores, but clock is ticking
Washington touchdown - Evan Royster rushed for 2 yards.
Kai Forbath extra point is good.
1:28 Time Remaining.
Edwards helps Panthers build lead to 21-6
Score: Carolina 21, Washington 6
Scoring play: Cam Newton 1-yard run.
Drive: 3 plays, 91 yards, 1:31 elapsed.
Key play: Newton finds Armanti Edwards for an 82-yard pass completion taking the Panthers from their own 9-yard to the Redskins' 9-yard line.
Time of game: 12:46
Worth mentioning: Edwards had gained a total of 24 yards receiving and rushing in his NFL career prior to his long reception.
Panthers score, stretch lead
Carolina Touchdown - 1-yard run by Cam Newton.
Justin Medlock extra point is good.
12:46 Time Remaining.
3 plays, 91 yards. Time of Drive: 1:31.
Panthers 14, Washington 6
Scoring play: 25-yard field goal by Kai Forbath.
Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 5:00 elapsed.
Key play: A 25-yard completion from Robert Griffin III to Leonard Hankerson on first down, moving the Redskins to the Carolina 48.
Time of game: 6:02 remaining in the third quarter.
Worth mentioning: The Panthers caught a break with a 10-yard illegal block penalty against the Redskins, slowing their momentum once they got to the Carolina 28-yard line.
Washington gets 3, closes gap
Washington Field Goal - 25-yarder by Kai Forbath.
6:02 Time Remaining. 10 plays, 69 yards. Time of Drive: 5:00.
Halftime: Panthers 14, Redskins 3
LANDOVER, Md. – The Panthers' defense came up with a goal-line stand in the second quarter to preserve a halftime lead Sunday over Washington at FedEx Field.
After the defensive stop, Cam Newton drove the offense 98 yards and hit Steve Smith on a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Carolina a 14-3 lead at the break.
It was the first touchdown catch of the season for Smith, who beat Josh Wilson on the fade route. The Panthers were holding a 7-3 lead when the Redskins opted against a Kai Forbath field goal and went for the end zone.
The Redskins, who lead the league in fourth-down conversions, had already converted two fourth downs on the drive when they kept the offense on the field for a fourth-and-goal from the 2.
Rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III ran right, but was forced out of bounds by safety Charles Godfrey and backup cornerback Josh Thomas for no gain with 5:13 left before halftime.
The Redskins held the ball for 16 plays and more than 10 minutes on the drive, but came away with no points.
On their ensuing possession, the Panthers took advantage of a couple of Washington penalties to move into scoring position. After two incompletions, Newton threw a perfect pass to Smith for the 11-point lead.
Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams, the subject of trade talks leading to last week's deadline, gave the Panthers a 7-3 lead with a 30-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.
Newton-Smith connection extends Panthers lead, 14-3
Carolina Touchdown - 19-yard pass from Cam Newton to Steve Smith. (Justin Medlock extra point is good). 0:57 Time Remaining. (12 plays, 98 yards. Time of Drive: 4:16).
Panthers score, take lead
Carolina Touchdown - DeAngelo Williams rushed right for 30 yards.
Justin Medlock extra point is good with 0:24 Time Remaining.
Redskins lead 3-0
Washington Field Goal - 47-yarder by Kai Forbath.
4:20 Time Remaining.
12 plays, 68 yards. Time of Drive: 6:45.
LaFell out vs. Redskins
LANDOVER, Md. – The Panthers will face the league's worst pass defense without their No. 2 wideout today against the Redskins.
Brandon LaFell, who didn't practice all week after sustaining a concussion in a Week 8 loss to Chicago, was among the Panthers' seven inactives.
Louis Murphy, who has nine catches this season and a number of drops, will start in LaFell's place. Second-year receiver Kealoha Pilares will be the No. 3 wideout.
The Panthers have just four receivers active after deciding not to activate Joe Adams or David Gettis, who began the season the physically unable to perform list with a hamstring injury. The Panthers have until Tuesday to bring Gettis on to the 53-man roster or he will remain on the PUP list the rest of the season.
The rest of the Panthers' inactives are injured DEs Antwan Applewhite and Thomas Keiser, QB Jimmy Clausen, S D.J. Campbell and CB Ron Parker.
The Redskins' inactives are QB Rex Grossman, S Brandon Meriweather, CB Richard Crawford, G Adam Gettis, OL Maurice Hurt, WR Pierre Garcon, DE Doug Worthington.
Read more at out Inside the Panthers blog.
