B QUARTERBACK: Cam Newton threw his first interception since the Denver game in Week 10, ending his team-record streak at 176 passes. Newton took a beating, but made some great escapes to prevent further damage. He accounted for the game’s only two touchdowns.

C RUNNING BACKS: DeAngelo Williams (10 carries, 19 yards) couldn’t get anything going after his 76-yard touchdown run was nullified by a penalty. But he didn’t have much room to work with. Fullback Mike Tolbert averaged 5.6 yards on five carries.

B RECEIVERS: Steve Smith had a holding penalty that wiped out Williams’ touchdown. But he bounced back with two catches on the next series, including a 23-yard touchdown reception. Tight end Greg Olsen had six receptions to give him 65 on the season, breaking Wesley Walls’ team record for a tight end (63).

D OFFENSIVE LINE: The Panthers are running out of bodies up front. Left guard Amini Silatolu (dislocated wrist) joined center Geoff Hangartner on the injured list. Neither Thomas Austin nor Bruce Campbell was the answer at Silatolu’s spot.

B- DEFENSIVE LINE: Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards, back after missing two games with a wrist injury, had the Panthers’ only sack. End Greg Hardy batted a Matt Leinart pass on a key fourth-down play in the fourth quarter.

A LINEBACKERS: Thomas Davis was all over the field early in the game, taking away the Raiders’ short passing game. Luke Kuechly had 13 tackles and his second interception – a second-quarter pick that set up a Newton touchdown.

B DEFENSIVE BACKS: The secondary continues to keep quarterbacks from hitting long passes. Captain Munnerlyn made five tackles, and fellow corners Josh Thomas and James Dockery each had a pass breakup.

C SPECIAL TEAMS: Punt returner Joe Adams likely lost his spot with another fumble. Graham Gano missed a 48-yard field goal in the first half, but nailed a 51-yarder in the fourth quarter that gave the Panthers a two-score lead and sealed things. Jason Phillips and Colin Jones made nice, open-field tackles for the coverage teams.

B COACHING: Ron Rivera’s team is again playing its best football down the stretch. A win next week in New Orleans could be enough for him to keep his job. Smith and several other players said it was nice to get a win for a coach they respect.

Joseph Person