NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series Saturday and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-16 in a preseason game.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series Saturday and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-16 in a preseason game.
The game was delayed about 30 minutes because of lightning late in the third quarter.
Newton went 8 of 12 before leaving midway through the second quarter. He opened the game by leading a 93-yard drive that included a 61-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr.
Ginn caught Newton’s pass about 10 yards downfield. Antwon Blake missed a tackle as soon as the catch was made, then the 31-year-old Ginn outraced the other Titans to the end zone.
“He’s probably one of the fastest guys in the NFL,” Newton said. “That’s not a reach. He is. Of course they will (mention) his age, but this is what I say. …. I feel as if when Ted comes to Carolina, this is only team that probably used him in the receiver position the way he wants to and is supposed to.
“I think so much of his career he’s been labeled a return specialist, and in the return game, you may have one or maybe two opportunities to prove yourself, so that leaves a lot of tread on the tires for him.”
This was the second straight week the Titans have allowed an opponent to score a long touchdown on its opening series.
“We take pride in trying to make sure we make stops and put our offense in the best situation,” Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said.
“To put them behind like (that) to start the game was very unacceptable for us as a defense. We pride ourselves on trying to be the No. 1 defense in the league, and to be that we can’t allow things like that to happen.”
That opening series also featured two completions to Kelvin Benjamin, who missed the 2015 season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament after a big rookie year. Benjamin caught a 16-yard pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage and had a 13-yard reception on a third-and-7.
Newton also led a 49-yard drive that ended with Graham Gano’s 41-yard field goal.
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota directed three series and went 9 of 10 for 104 yards with one touchdown and an interception. On his final pass, Mariota rolled right and found Harry Douglas in the right corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.
Mariota is 14 of 15 through two preseason games.