PANTHERS 17, BROWNS 13
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers never quit on the season, and now have a chance to repeat as NFC South champions.
Cam Newton threw for one touchdown and ran for another, and the Panthers defeated the Cleveland Browns 17-13 on Sunday to take sole possession of first place in the division.
The victory sets up a winner-take-all showdown next Sunday at Atlanta between the Panthers (6-8-1) and Falcons (6-9) for the division title. It also guarantees a team without even a .500 record will win the NFC South.
The winner will join the 2010 Seattle Seahawks as the only teams to reach the postseason in a non-strike-shortened season with a losing record.
"Now it all comes down to one game and that's all we can ask for is to be in that situation," Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said.
The Panthers have won three consecutive after going more than two months without a victory. The Browns (7-8) were eliminated from contention when San Diego beat San Francisco on Saturday.
Newton threw for 201 yards and ran for 63 just 12 days after suffering two fractures in his lower back in an automobile accident. Jonathan Stewart ran for 122 yards and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Newton.
"It speaks to his toughness," Rivera said of Newton.
Johnny Manziel made his second NFL start for Cleveland, left with 1:49 left in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.
The Panthers led most of the game before Browns tight end Jordan Cameron got behind the secondary and hauled in an 81-yard touchdown pass from Brian Hoyer. That gave Cleveland its first lead of the game at 13-10 with about 10 minutes remaining.
The Browns had 126 yards on offense before that play and 228 yards all afternoon.
Manziel finished 3 of 8, passing for 32 yards. He also ran twice for 3 yards. Hoyer was 7 of 13 for 134 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.
Sports on 12/22/2014