14:26 left in the first quarter

Panthers linebackers Jordan Senn and James Anderson hit tailback Arian Foster, causing him to fumble. Anderson recovers at the Texans’ 26, setting up Steve Smith’s TD catch four plays later.

13:34 left in the second quarter

On third-and-3 from the Texans’ 25, Cam Newton lofts a pass down the left sideline for tight end Greg Olsen, who gets behind Glover Quin for 17-yard catch. Panthers score two plays later on Jeremy Shockey’s TD catch for 14-0 lead.

6:12 left in the second quarter

On third-and-13 from the Panthers’ 43, T.J. Yates throws short left for Kevin Walter. Senn steps in front, intercepts the pass and returns it 21 yards into Texans’ territory.

13:12 left in the third quarter

Jacoby Jones takes Jason Baker’s 54-yard punt, makes Jason Williams miss, and returns it 42 yards to the Panthers’ 35 to give the Texans a short field on their first offensive possession of the second half.

11:13 left in the fourth quarter

With the Texans blitzing on third-and-4, Newton fires a quick out pass to Legedu Naanee, who gains 9 yards for a first down at midfield. Two plays later, DeAngelo Williams races in for 24-yard TD and 28-13 lead.

7:34 left in the fourth quarter

On third-and-goal from the Panthers’ 9, Yates scrambles right and tries to hit Jones in the end zone. But Anderson intercepts at the goal line, preserving the Panthers’ 28-13 lead.

CAROLINA PANTHERS 28
HOUSTON TEXANS 13
Paid Attendance: 71,540

THE TEXANS…
· Set the franchise single-season sack record with the 38th of the year when NT Earl Mitchell tackled Carolina QB Cam Newton for no gain in the first quarter, breaking the previous mark of 37 set in 2005. The Texans entered the game with 36 sacks on the year.

· Trailed at the end of the first quarter, at halftime and through three quarters for the second consecutive week and the third time this season in each instance. Houston fell to 1-2 in all three instances.

· Were shut out in the first half for the first time this season.

· Scored on their opening drive of the second half for the eighth time this season and for the second consecutive week when K Neil Rackers booted a 26-yard field goal.

· Team captains were C Chris Myers on offense; ILB Brian Cushing, ILB DeMeco Ryans and DE Antonio Smith on defense; and K Neil Rackers representing the special teams.

· The Texans won the toss and elected to receive.

· Total paid attendance was 71,540, which was the third-largest crowd this season and third-largest in team history. The Houston Texans have sold out all 99 home games, including preseason and regular-season contests, in franchise history.

G THOMAS AUSTIN
· Made his professional debut, taking the field with the kickoff return unit on the opening kickoff.

OLB CONNOR BARWIN
· Sacked Carolina QB Cam Newton for a 10-yard loss on the Panthers’ opening drive, giving him 10.5 for the year. Barwin became the second Texan to notch double-digit sacks in a season, joining Mario Williams, who did so in 2007 and 2008.

G ANTOINE CALDWELL
· Made his first start of the season at RG. He started seven games in 2010, including the last three games of the season.

ILB BRIAN CUSHING
· Led the team with 12 tackles, including nine solos and one tackle for loss. It was the 10th game this season in which Cushing led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles.

TE OWEN DANIELS
· Extended his streak of consecutive games played with a reception to 67 on a 17-yard reception in the third quarter.

FS QUINTIN DEMPS
· Returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 50 yards. It was his longest kick return as a Texan and his longest since 11/23/08 when he had a 100-yard return for a touchdown at Baltimore as a Philadelphia Eagle.

RB ARIAN FOSTER
· Surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season on is seventh carry of the game, a gain of 18. The run gave him 1,010 yards on the year, making him the second player in team history to top 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive season along with Domanick Williams in 2003-04.

· Became the fifth player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards in consecutive seasons. He topped 600 receiving yards on the year with his fifth catch of the day, a 22-yard gain in the fourth quarter, which gave him 601 yards on the season.

· Went over 100 yards for the sixth time this season and the 14th time in his career. He topped the century mark on a 6-yard gain in the fourth quarter, his 13th rush of the game, and finished with 109 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

· Scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season and the 28th of his career when he dove into the end zone from 2 yards out. Foster has scored a rushing touchdown in eight of Houston’s last nine games.

WR BRYANT JOHNSON
· Doubled his season reception total with a pair of catches on Houston’s second drive. He entered the game with two receptions for 22 yards on the year and caught two passes for 23 yards on that drive.

WR JACOBY JONES
· Returned a third-quarter punt 42 yards. It was his fifth return of 40 or more yards this season.

WR JEFF MAEHL
· Made his NFL debut after being signed off of the Texans’ practice squad on Wednesday. Maehl saw his first action on the punt return unit in the first quarter.

NT EARL MITCHELL
· Registered his first sack of the season when he tackled Carolina QB Cam Newton for no gain in the first quarter. It was his second career sack.

K NEIL RACKERS
· Scored seven points in the game to increase his season total to 115, tying Kris Brown’s 2007 point total for the third-most in franchise history.

FB LAWRENCE VICKERS
· Caught his fourth pass of the game, a four-yarder in the third quarter, to set a career single-game high. Vickers’ previous high was three receptions on 11/4/07 vs. Seattle as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

DE J.J. WATT
· Tied a career high with seven tackles, including five solos, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hit. He also made seven tackles in Week 12 at Jacksonville (11/27).

QB T.J. YATES
· Completed his first eight pass attempts, gaining 60 yards on those throws. His ninth pass of the game was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete.

· Finished the game 19-of-30 for 212 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 56.5.

HOUSTON (AP) — With all eyes on
Cam Newton
, the
Carolina Panthers
turned to a trick play to stretch their big lead in Houston on Sunday.

Newton took the snap, slipped the ball to
Richie Brockel
, and the tight end swung around the left side for a touchdown late in the first half of Carolina’s 28-13 victory that snapped
the Texans’ seven-game winning streak.

Newton also threw two touchdown passes and outplayed opposing rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. The Panthers (5-9) built a 21-0
halftime lead, then ended Houston’s second-half rally when linebacker
James Anderson
intercepted Yates in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.

But the talk in the Panthers’ locker room after the game swirled around the bold gimmick play from the Texans 7 in the final
minute of the half.

“The offensive coaches have basically been working on different things and things that we can mix with what we do on offense,”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “I’m not sure which one of our guys came up with this one, but the timing of it was perfect.”

Houston’s focus on Newton, the top overall pick, created the opportunity to run the play.

“The defense is so keyed up on him and worried about him making the play,” Brockel said, “they sometimes forget about other
things and their assignments.”

By then, Carolina already had the Texans (10-4) on their heels.

Houston looked emotionally flat after clinching the AFC South last weekend, and its top-ranked defense appeared vulnerable
without coordinator Wade Phillips, who’s on medical leave after undergoing kidney and gall bladder surgery this week.

Linebackers coach Reggie Herring made the defensive calls on Sunday, but the Texans could not generate a turnover in a game
for the first time this season.

“I just think the overall theme of the day was, we gave up big plays and there were discipline parts of the game that we were
not very disciplined on, as we have been throughout the year,” Herring said. “We obviously didn’t execute very well.”

Houston gave up only 316 yards, but Carolina converted two Texans turnovers into 14 points.

Arian Foster
fumbled on the second snap, and Newton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to
Steve Smith
less than 3 minutes into the game. It was the third fumble lost by Foster this year, and
Ben Tate
came in for Houston’s second series.

Yates completed his first seven passes, but the Texans struggled to sustain drives against the league’s 24th-ranked defense.

Newton, meanwhile, completed passes at key moments, despite finishing with a season-low total in yards passing.

He shrugged off two early sacks to make pinpoint passes to Smith and
Greg Olsen
for big gains then found
Jeremy Shockey
for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 12:19 left in the half.

Newton has avoided a turnover in three of four games since throwing four interceptions in a loss to Detroit on Nov. 20.

“I think that’s the key to success for the
Carolina Panthers
offensively,” Newton said. “I look at other quarterbacks across the league and when they do a good job of protecting the football
that’s just the key to the win.”

Yates, in his third career start, made his first key mistake after getting Houston across midfield in the second quarter.
Carolina linebacker
Jordan Senn
intercepted his pass to
Kevin Walter
, and Newton calmly guided the Panthers down the field again.

The Texans’ offense looked better in the third quarter, twice advancing into Carolina territory. But Yates threw incomplete
on two third-down plays and Houston only came away with two field goals from
Neil Rackers
.

Houston’s defense stiffened after the break, and Foster got the offense moving again with a weaving, 22-yard run to the Panthers
24. Yates zipped a pass to Walter to the 11, and Foster scored three plays later.

Carolina produced only 23 yards and one first down in the third quarter.

But Newton quieted the revived crowd with a 26-yard pass to Shockey early in the fourth.
DeAngelo Williams
sprinted 24 yards through a gaping hole on the next snap to put Carolina in front 28-13.

Notes: The Panthers have led in 13 of 14 games this season. … Carolina has scored 40 touchdowns this season after scoring
just 16 in 2010. … Newton finished with 149 yards passing, a season low. … Yates completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards.
… The Texans allowed more than 20 points at home for the first time since a 25-20 loss to Oakland in Week 5.

© 2011 STATS LLC

HOUSTON (AP) — With all eyes on
Cam Newton
, the
Carolina Panthers
turned to a trick play to stretch their big lead in Houston on Sunday.

Newton took the snap, slipped the ball to
Richie Brockel
, and the tight end swung around the left side for a touchdown late in the first half of Carolina’s 28-13 victory that snapped
the Texans’ seven-game winning streak.

Newton also threw two touchdown passes and outplayed opposing rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. The Panthers (5-9) built a 21-0
halftime lead, then ended Houston’s second-half rally when linebacker
James Anderson
intercepted Yates in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.

But the talk in the Panthers’ locker room after the game swirled around the bold gimmick play from the Texans 7 in the final
minute of the half.

“The offensive coaches have basically been working on different things and things that we can mix with what we do on offense,”
Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “I’m not sure which one of our guys came up with this one, but the timing of it was perfect.”

Houston’s focus on Newton, the top overall pick, created the opportunity to run the play.

“The defense is so keyed up on him and worried about him making the play,” Brockel said, “they sometimes forget about other
things and their assignments.”

By then, Carolina already had the Texans (10-4) on their heels.

Houston looked emotionally flat after clinching the AFC South last weekend, and its top-ranked defense appeared vulnerable
without coordinator Wade Phillips, who’s on medical leave after undergoing kidney and gall bladder surgery this week.

Linebackers coach Reggie Herring made the defensive calls on Sunday, but the Texans could not generate a turnover in a game
for the first time this season.

“I just think the overall theme of the day was, we gave up big plays and there were discipline parts of the game that we were
not very disciplined on, as we have been throughout the year,” Herring said. “We obviously didn’t execute very well.”

Houston gave up only 316 yards, but Carolina converted two Texans turnovers into 14 points.

Arian Foster
fumbled on the second snap, and Newton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to
Steve Smith
less than 3 minutes into the game. It was the third fumble lost by Foster this year, and
Ben Tate
came in for Houston’s second series.

Yates completed his first seven passes, but the Texans struggled to sustain drives against the league’s 24th-ranked defense.

Newton, meanwhile, completed passes at key moments, despite finishing with a season-low total in yards passing.

He shrugged off two early sacks to make pinpoint passes to Smith and
Greg Olsen
for big gains then found
Jeremy Shockey
for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 12:19 left in the half.

Newton has avoided a turnover in three of four games since throwing four interceptions in a loss to Detroit on Nov. 20.

“I think that’s the key to success for the
Carolina Panthers
offensively,” Newton said. “I look at other quarterbacks across the league and when they do a good job of protecting the football
that’s just the key to the win.”

Yates, in his third career start, made his first key mistake after getting Houston across midfield in the second quarter.
Carolina linebacker
Jordan Senn
intercepted his pass to
Kevin Walter
, and Newton calmly guided the Panthers down the field again.

The Texans’ offense looked better in the third quarter, twice advancing into Carolina territory. But Yates threw incomplete
on two third-down plays and Houston only came away with two field goals from
Neil Rackers
.

Houston’s defense stiffened after the break, and Foster got the offense moving again with a weaving, 22-yard run to the Panthers
24. Yates zipped a pass to Walter to the 11, and Foster scored three plays later.

Carolina produced only 23 yards and one first down in the third quarter.

But Newton quieted the revived crowd with a 26-yard pass to Shockey early in the fourth.
DeAngelo Williams
sprinted 24 yards through a gaping hole on the next snap to put Carolina in front 28-13.

Notes: The Panthers have led in 13 of 14 games this season. … Carolina has scored 40 touchdowns this season after scoring
just 16 in 2010. … Newton finished with 149 yards passing, a season low. … Yates completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards.
… The Texans allowed more than 20 points at home for the first time since a 25-20 loss to Oakland in Week 5.

© 2011 STATS LLC

by Associated Press

khou.com

Posted on December 18, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Updated
today at 3:48 PM

HOUSTON — Cam Newton threw two touchdown passes, DeAngelo Williams ran for a score and the Carolina Panthers ended Houston’s seven-game winning streak with a 28-13 win over the Texans on Sunday.

Newton completed 13 of 23 passes for 149 yards, outplaying opposing rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. The Panthers (5-9) built a 21-0 halftime lead, then ended Houston’s second-half rally when linebacker James Anderson intercepted Yates in the end zone midway through the fourth quarter.

The Texans (10-4) are playing for home-field advantage in the playoffs after clinching the AFC South last weekend.

But their top-ranked defense looked vulnerable without coordinator Wade Phillips, who’s on medical leave after undergoing kidney and gall bladder surgery this week. Linebackers coach Reggie Herring made the defensive calls on Sunday.

Houston gave up only 316 yards, but Carolina converted two Texans turnovers into 14 points.

Arian Foster fumbled on the second snap, and Newton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith less than 3 minutes into the game. It was the third fumble lost by Foster this year, and Ben Tate came in for Houston’s second series.

Yates completed his first seven passes, but the Texans struggled to sustain drives against the league’s 24th-ranked defense.

Newton, meanwhile, completed passes at key moments, despite finishing with a season-low total in yards passing.

He shrugged off two early sacks to make pinpoint passes to Smith and Greg Olsen for big gains then found Jeremy Shockey for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 12:19 left in the half.

Yates made his first key mistake after getting Houston across midfield in the second quarter. Carolina linebacker Jordan Senn intercepted his off-target pass to Kevin Walter, and Newton calmly guided the Panthers down the field again.

Richie Brockel’s sweeping TD run finished a 9-play drive to put Carolina up 21-0 and the Texans faced their largest deficit of the season. The Panthers were also the first opponent to reach 20 points on Houston’s home field since the Texans lost 25-20 to Oakland in Week 5.

The Texans’ offense looked better in the third quarter, twice advancing into Carolina territory. But Yates threw incomplete on two third-down plays and Houston came away with only two field goals from Neil Rackers to cut the Panthers’ lead to 21-6.

Houston’s defense stiffened after the break, and Foster got the offense moving again with a weaving, 22-yard run to the Panthers 24. Yates zipped a pass to Walter to the 11, and Foster scored three plays later.

Carolina produced only 23 yards and one first down in the third quarter.

But Newton quieted the revived crowd with a 26-yard pass to Shockey early in the fourth. Williams sprinted 24 yards through a gaping hole on the next snap to put Carolina in front 28-13.

The Texans were looking for a quick answer, driving inside the Panthers 10 in less than 2 minutes. Anderson then picked off Yates in the end zone, and the rookie quarterback walked to the sideline with his head down.

Yates, making his third career start, completed 19 of 30 passes for 212 yards.

Newton and the Panthers chewed up the final 7 minutes to earn their first victory of the season over a team with a winning record. Newton also rushed for 55 yards on seven carries.