2017 SEASON - WEEK 15
PANTHERS STUN BILLS
Cam Newton celebrates Carolina's last second win over the Bills.
12/17/17
Charlotte, NC (AP) - The Carolina Panthers ran out to a big second half lead, watched it evaporate, then had Cam Newton pull it out late as they stunned the Buffalo Bills, 27-24 at Bank of America Stadium in downtown Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. Newton's 25 yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr with eight second left completed the late comeback and sent the Bills to their third loss in four games.
Shady McCoy's score gave the Bills their first lead of the game, in the fourth quarter.This was a battle between two division leaders that actually lived up to the hype. Both teams came in at (9-4) with top 10 ranked defenses.
The Panthers (10-4) grabbed the lead on the opening possession of the ballgame. They drove 59 yards in 13 plays, but had to settle for a 30 yard Graham Gano field goal. Cam Newton went 6 for 6 on the drive for 50 yards. The Bills would answer with a five play, 71 yard drive that ended with Tyrod Taylor finding Karlos Williams in the end zone for a four yard score as the Bills grabbed a 7-3 lead. Shady McCoy keyed the drive with a 79 yard run off of the right side on a 2nd and 22 play from the Buffalo 17 yard line.
It took Carolina just three plays to regain the lead. Jonathan Stewart broke a tackle on second down and scampered 67 yards to the Buffalo two yard line. Cam Newton then found Kelvin Benjamin in the end zone for a two yard touchdown pass as the Panthers regained the lead 10-7.
The Bills would miss a chance to close the gap late in the half as Dan Carpenter missed wide left from 60 yards out. That setup the Panthers with a short field and Cam made them pay. They drove down to the 13 yard line where on third and goal, Newton ran a keeper up the middle and scored to give the Panthers a 10 point halftime lead. Newton was on fire in the first half, completing 16 of 17 passes for 141 yards with a touchdown pass and run.
Late in the third, Tyrod Taylor was stripped from behind as he scrambled by Charles Johnson. Johnson would recover the fumble at midfield. That setup the Panthers again with a short field and they converted it into points with another Gano field goal to push their lead to 13 heading into the fourth quarter.
Buffalo (9-5) would put together a seven play, 74 yard drive that was capped by another Karlos Williams touchdown. The one yard run was his 10th touchdown on the season and pulled the Bills to within a score. On the Panthers ensuing drive, Senquz Golson blocked a Graham Gano field goal attempt after the Panthers drove 15 plays down to the Bills 19 yard line.
That blocked field goal setup the Bills for a quick four play, 63 yard drive to take the lead. Shady McCoy ran untouched off of the right side for 36 yards to tie the game at 20-20. Dan Carpenter's extra point put Buffalo ahead with 5:47 left in regulation. The Bills would force a three and out, then added a 50 yard Dan Carpenter field goal with 1:46 left to go up by four.
That set the stage for Newton's heroics. The Panthers would drive 13 plays with just one timeout. Newton would hit Ted Ginn Jr on third and 19 from the Buffalo 25 yard line. Ginn beat linebacker Reggie Ragland in coverage on a beautiful strike from Newton. The key play on the drive was a 24 yard pass play to Kelvin Benjamin on fourth and sixth from the Panther 29 yard line.
The loss, coupled with another New England Patriots win, leaves the Bills just a game ahead of the Pats with two games left. The two teams will meet in Foxborough on the final Sunday of the season. The Pats have won 6 of 7 after starting the season (2-5).
Carolina will close the season with road games at the Jets (3-10-1) and at Tampa (6-8). They have a two game lead over New Orleans in the NFC South and currently hold the #1 seed in the NFC.
Notes: Cam Newton struggled in the second half, but got it together on the game winning drive. He went 6 for 12 for 105 yards on that final Carolina drive. They overcame five penalties for 30 yards on the game winning drive. SHady McCoy returned to the Bills lineup and was electric, running it 18 times for 177 yards.
Leaders:
Passing: Cam Newton (CAR): 31-44 363 yds, 2 TD, 1 car, 13 yds, TD; Tyrod Taylor (BUF): 12-18 114 yds, TD
Rushing: LeSean McCoy (BUF): 18 car, 177 yds, TD; Jonathan Stewart (CAR): 20 car 98 yds
Receiving: Ted Ginn Jr (CAR): 5 rec, 96 yds, TD; Charles Clay (BUF): 3 rec 24 yds