Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s rookie record for yards passing in a season and set a franchise record with a 91-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell as the Panthers handed the Bucs their ninth straight defeat, 48-16 on Saturday.
Newton threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a remarkable 49-yard run up the middle in which he outraced smaller defensive backs to the end zone.
The Panthers (6-9) scored on eight of their first nine possessions and piled up 397 yards in three quarters against the league’s 30th-ranked defense. Coach Ron Rivera pulled Newton and the other key starters early in the fourth quarter.
DeAngelo Williams scored on runs of 8 and 22 yards, his sixth and seventh of the season, and Jonathan Stewart ran for 88 yards and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Newton.
The Panthers outscored Tampa Bay 28-6 after halftime.
With the blowout victory, Carolina finished with a 3-5 record at Bank of America Stadium.
Next week, the Cats will search for their seventh win of the season in New Orleans.
[…] Newton, Williams Help Panthers Pound Bucs 48-16 Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s rookie record for yards passing in a season and set a franchise record with a 91-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell as the Panthers handed the Bucs their ninth straight defeat, 48-16 on Saturday. Newton threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a remarkable 49-yard run up the middle in whi… […]