Sunday, December 16, 2012 04:05 PM (ET)

Recap: Panthers 31, Chargers 7

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 16, 2012


Panthers 31, Chargers 7:
Cam Newton threw a pair of touchdown passes and Mike Tolbert added two scoring runs as visiting Carolina blew out San Diego.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 93 yards and caught a 45-yard touchdown pass for the Panthers (5-9), who have won consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Chargers (5-9) were limited to a season-low 164 total yards. They lost two fumbles and were held scoreless until Philip Rivers' 9-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Gates with 14:02 left in the game.

Carolina scored touchdowns on its first three possessions, getting a pair of 1-yard scoring runs from Tolbert and Newton's touchdown pass to Williams en route to a 24-0 halftime lead. The Panthers tacked on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Newton to Steve Smith on their first possession of the second half to make it 31-0.

Smith had six catches for 57 yards, putting him over 1,000 receiving yards for the seventh time in his 12-year career.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Gates' touchdown reception was the 81st of his career, matching Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most in team history. … Carolina's Greg Hardy (11) and Charles Johnson (10.5) each had two sacks, giving the Panthers their first double-digit sack duo since Julius Peppers (12) and Mike Rucker (10) in 2002. … The Panthers have won four of five all-time meetings with San Diego.

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