Quarterback Cam Newton led Carolina Panthers to a 24-17 home win over the Houston Texans yesterday.
The fifth-year Panthers starter threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground he rushed for another 76 and produced highlight-reel, somersaulting score.
"My heart was in my socks," Newton said. "As I was flipping I was like, 'Hey, I don't know how this is gonna end.' And then I'm coming down I said, 'Hey, I can stick this.' I didn't stick it, but I think I still got a good high rating by the judge."
Yesterday marked the 25th time Newton passed and rushed for a touchdown.
Head Coach Ron Rivera says the Panthers' defense was strong, too, and a victory feels good.
"In this league, when you win, it's a big deal. It really is. It doesn't matter how or when or where," Rivera said. "To me, the big thing, most of all of anything else, we came through this, we fought through this and we made something happen."
The Panthers are unbeaten and atop the NFC South. Carolina welcomes division foe New Orleans to town next week.
