LITTLE ROCK — Fox enjoys return to Carolina

The Carolina Panthers got all worked up about spoiling the Redskins’ homecoming last weekend in Washington.

But they did little to rain on John Fox’s homecoming parade Sunday, allowing the former Carolina coach to fly back to Denver with a 36-14 victory and a smile on his face.

The Broncos sacked Cam Newton seven times and scored touchdowns in all three phases.

Fox, who took the Panthers to the Super Bowl and two other playoff appearances in nine seasons in Charlotte, tried to downplay the game. But it meant enough to him that the Broncos presented him with the game ball after his first game at Bank of America Stadium as a visiting head coach.

“This game is fun when you win, anytime you get a victory on the road,” Fox said. “I think the guys kind of knew what this was going to be like for me and it was very generous of them.”

The Panthers (2-7) gave up no sacks last week in a 21-13 victory against Washington. A few players said they felt slighted as the opponents for the Redskins’ alumni weekend.

But if the Panthers were fired up to face their former coach, they didn’t show it.

“It would have meant a lot for us to beat him,” said Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross, drafted by Fox before the 2003 Super Bowl season.

“That’s a big game for him.

I’m sure they’ll have a nice flight home. It’s a shame it went the way it did.”Milestones

Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez caught the 100th touchdown pass of his career, a 2-yarder from Matt Ryan in Atlanta’s 31-27 loss at New Orleans. He added another score on a 6-yard pass and is the first tight end with 100 touchdown receptions.

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw his 420th touchdown pass to move into a tie for second place on the NFL’s career list with Dan Marino. He trails only Brett Favre (508).

Stats

San Francisco’s 24-24 tie with St. Louis was the first in four years in the NFL, since Cincinnati and Philadelphia played a 13-13 tie. ... The Buccaneers topped 30 points for the fourth consecutive week. They have scored 28 or more in five consecutive games for the first time in franchise history. ... Miami’s 37-3 defeat at the hands of the Titans was the most lopsided at home since 1968 and worst anywhere since 2000. ... The 55 points scored by Baltimore tied an Oakland record for points allowed, a mark set in 1961 and matched in 1981. ... The home team has won every game in the Giants-Bengals series, which the Bengals lead 6-3 after a 31-13 victory.

Injuries, injuries

Tampa Bay linebacker Quincy Black was hospitalized for observation of a neck injury after being carted off the field during the third quarter of the Buccaneers’ 34-24 victory over San Diego. Black was injured tackling running back Ryan Mathews for a 1-yard loss, remaining on the ground with just under 4 minutes left in the quarter.

The Bucs did not release specifics about the injury, but Coach Greg Schiano said the sixth-year pro is expected to be OK. Trainers worked over Black for several minutes before immobilizing his neck and back on a stretcher.

“He’s at the hospital for observation. We think he’s going to be OK, but he’s got to work through some things,” Schiano said after the game. Schiano was the coach at Rutgers when former Scarlet Knights player Eric LeGrand broke two vertebrae and suffered a serious spinal cord injury in October 2010 during a kickoff return against Army.

He said thoughts of the paralyzed defensive lineman went through his mind when Black remained on the ground.

Buccaneers cornerback Eric Wright left Sunday’s game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return.

Broncos defensive end Elvis Dumervil left Denver’s 36-14 victory over Carolina midway through the second quarter with a left shoulder injury.

Dumervil, who has six sacks this season, had two tackles and a forced fumble before he was replaced by Robert Ayers.

Sports, Pages 18 on 11/12/2012