The Carolina Panthers defeated Green Bay for their second consecutive home win…
Amid another off the field distraction, the Carolina Panthers defeated Green Bay to remain in both the wild-card playoff race and fight for a divisional title. Keeping pace with the New Orleans Saints, who won at home over the Jets, both teams remain atop the division with two regular season games left to play.
Early, Carolina attacked Green Bay out of the backfield with rooking running back Christian McCaffrey. Vulnerable to pass catching running backs all season, McCaffrey finished with 136 total yards and his seventh touchdown of the year. A long opening drive concluded with quarterback Cam Newton finding McCaffrey for a seven yard score.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a little rusty in his return to the field after being on injured reserve for a majority of the season. He did finish with three touchdown passes but also tossed three interceptions to a defense not known for their ability to force turnovers.
A changing fact in recent weeks as both cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley each intercepted Rodgers for their second takeaways in as many games. Fellow defensive back Colin Jones also got in on the action with his second career interception.
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Despite his mistakes, Rodgers eventually pulled the Packers within one score just prior to the final two-minute warning and was set to potentially tie the game after Green Bay recovered an onside kick. The momentum was clearly shifting but for a second straight week the Panthers defense came up big when needed.
Three plays later Rodgers completed a pass to Geronimo Allison that was knocked loose by Bradberry and recovered by safety Mike Adams. The play immediately went under review, inside the two-minute warning and being a turnover, confirming Allison did indeed complete the catch and then fumble.
Adams recovery sealed the win for Carolina, ending any chance at a Rodgers comeback and essentially their run of eight straight post season appearances.
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Newton finished with 242 yards passing and four touchdowns, two to Damiere Byrd and one to Greg Olsen in addition to the McCaffrey score as the Panthers defeated Green Bay, 31-24.