Newton’s arm, legs carry Panthers past Ravens

Cam Newton torched the league’s No. 1-ranked defense, completing 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns and running for 52 yards and another score as the Carolina Panthers beat the Baltimore Ravens 36-21 on Sunday

Christian McCaffrey had two touchdowns and electrifying rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore turned in his best game as a pro with 129 yards from scrimmage as the Panthers won their ninth straight game at home.

Trailing 7-0 early, the Panthers (52) scored on four straight possessions in the final 16 minutes of the first half to break open the game and take a 24-7 halftime lead.After the Ravens (4-4) climbed within 13 on Joe Flacco’s TD pass to Javorius Allen, Newton calmly drove the Panthers 85 yards in nine plays and scored from 12 yards on a naked bootleg to put the game away early in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers rolled up 386 yards against a Ravens defense that had come in allowing a league-low 280.6 yards and 14.4 points per game. SAINTS 30, VIKINGS 20 >> Drew Brees and the Saints paid Minnesota back for their last-second loss in the playoffs last season, using two key turnovers, including a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by P.J. Williams.

Alvin Kamara scored twice, Will Lutz made three field goals and Sheldon Rankins had two of the four sacks by the Saints (6-1), who needed only 120 passing yards by Brees to beat the Vikings (4-3-1).

Adam Thielen had another record-setting performance for the Vikings with 103 yards and a score, but his red-zone fumble in the second quarter was returned 54 yards by Marshon Lattimore to set up the go-ahead touchdown for the Saints. Thielen tied Calvin Johnson’s alltime NFL record of eight straight 100-yard receiving games, set in 2012 with Detroit.

CHIEFS 30, BRONCOS 23 >> Patrick Mahomes threw for 303 yards and four TDs, Sammy Watkins had 107 yards receiving and two of the scores.

Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt added touchdown catches for the Chiefs (7-1), who have won 19 of their past 21 games against division rivals. That includes all three games this season. Case Keenum had 262 yards passing and two scores for the Broncos (3-5).

STEELERS 33, BROWNS 18 >> Ben Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes to Antonio Brown, and James Conner scored twice as the Steelers (4-2-1) overcame a slow start and their own mistakes to win their 15th straight at Heinz Field over the Browns (2-5-1), who have lost 25 consecutive road games — one shy of the NFL record.

SEAHAWKS 28, LIONS 14 >> Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter to put the Seahawks ahead.

The Seahawks (4-3) looked sharp on both sides of the ball coming off their bye and won for the fourth time in five games after opening the season with two losses.

Chris Carson, who had 105 yards rushing, scored on a 7-yard run early in the fourth to put the Seahawks up 28-7.

WASHINGTON 20, GIANTS 13 >> Safety D.J. Swearinger intercepted two passes, Matt Ioannidis had 21/2 sacks, and the NFC East-leading Washington rode its defense to a third straight win.

Adrian Peterson caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith and ran for a season-high 149 yards, with the last 64 coming on a touchdown jaunt with 3:06 to play, as Washington (5-2) matched its best start since 2008.

Washington sacked a battered Eli Manning seven times, forced the two turnovers and made big play after big play in sending New York (1-7) to its fifth straight loss.

BENGALS 37, BUCCANEERS 34 >> Jessie Bates returned Jameis Winston’s fourth interception for a touchdown, and Randy Bullock kicked a 44-yard field goal on the final play. Winston was benched after matching his career high with four interceptions. Ryan Fitzpatrick rallied the Buccaneers (3-4) to a 34-34 tie with a pair of touchdown passes, including his 18-yard toss with 1:05 left.

BEARS 24, JETS 10 >> Mitchell Trubisky threw for two touchdowns, and Chicago (4-3) won even though star pass rusher Khalil Mack (right ankle) and No. 1 receiver Allen Robinson (groin) missed the game. With Sam Darnold struggling against Chicago’s defense, the Jets (3-5) managed just 207 yards and lost their second straight game.