Carolina Panthers: 4 TDs by Cam Newton, good defense beat Cincinnati

Carolina Panthers improve to 2-1 after a thrilling 31-21 home victory over the Cincinnati Bengals…

Starting with the good news alphabetically from a Carolina Panthers 31-21 pounding of the Cincinnati Bengals, CJ Anderson’s 24 yard TD reception off a Cam Newton throw-back became an exclamation point for what the Norv Turner offense can do for players not named Christian McCaffrey. A couple C’s: One for Newton’s four touchdown day, another for CMC (McCaffrey) on his 28 carry, ‘big boy’ stomping for 184 yards- and 230 rushing yards overall- against what had previously been considered a stingy Cincinnati Bengals defense.

‘D’ would be a Panthers defense that bent often, allowing Andy Dalton to hang 352 yards and two touchdowns passing on them, but stopped the Bengals when it needed to with four interceptions, including two- and seven fierce tackles—worth of rookie cornerback Donte Jackson. To say Jackson APPEARS for tackles in a flashing of braids sounds lyrical, but that’s what No. 26 does, and when it’s that crucial 1-2 yards before line, that ends drives.

Give credit to the whole defense on ending drives- after tied at 14-14, the Bengals didn’t score again until 2:53 left, when Dalton (29 of 46 passes) scrambled left and dropped a beautiful 27-yard touchdown throw on Ty Boyd, who had 132 yards overall.