FINAL: Panthers 31, Packers 24
The Panthers get the ball back on a fumble! Mike Adams recovers and that should do it! The Panthers defense with their fourth turnover of the day! 1:48 left.
At the 2-minute warning, the Packers have the ball at the Panthers 38-yard line.
Not so fast, the Packers score and the Packers recover an onside kick with a chance to tie. Wow.
It's looking like the Panthers will keep pace with the Saints with another big win today. Peppers now is the fourth player in NFL history to have at least 10 seasons with 10 or more sacks.
Packers go for it on 4th and 13 and Julius Peppers is there for another sack! Panthers take over on downs!
Rodgers is sacked on third down! It's fourth and long for the Packers at the 30.
Newton keeps the option and fires a touchdown to Byrd! Byrd gives the ball to a fan as is custom with the Panthers. 31-17 with 12:24 left. Great route by Byrd and a good fake by Newton. A 75-yard touchdown drive puts Carolina in great shape to win.
Olsen with another big catch on third and 8 for a first down! Panthers inside the Green Bay 15.
Greg Olsen has his first 100-yard receiving game since Week 5 of 2016.
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER: Panthers 24, Packers 17
Packers wide receiver Davante Adams is out for the rest of the game with a concussion. Newton finds Olsen for a big play and a 20-yard gain to midfield.
On third and four at the Panthers 10, Rodgers calls timeout. On fourth down, he underthrows the receiver on a quick out route and Green Bay will have to kick a field goal. Mason Crosby's 28-yard kick is good. It's now 24-17 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.
On fourth and inches, the Packers decide to go for it and Rodgers scrambles for a few yards. Panthers contest the Packers jumped before the snap.
Packers get a sack of Newton for a three and out they needed.
Rodgers is intercepted again! James Bradberry gets the Panthers' third pick of the game! Rodgers threw on the run into double coverage. It's the most interceptions Rodgers has thrown in a single game since 2009.
Damiere Byrd with an awesome touchdown catch after initially bobbling the ball! Ha Ha Clinton-Dix was there with the pressure but Byrd pulled it down between a pair of defenders. 24-14 Panthers!
Colin Jones with the interception of Rodgers! Thomas Davis with a brutal blind side hit on Adams after the interception. Adams is down and a flag is thrown. Davis appears shaken on the sideline.
One play later Cam finds Greg Olsen wide open for the touchdown! A blown coverage by the Packers gives Carolina the lead back! It's 17-14 in the third quarter.
Newton tearing it up on the ground this drive, running for two first downs. A block in the back call sends the ball back to the 30.
HALFTIME: Packers 14, Panthers 10
Rodgers with a toss to Randall Cobb as he was falling down and Cobb jukes the Panthers secondary out of their shoes near the goal line and gets a touchdown. Packers now up 14-10 with 26 seconds left in the half. Cobb with the play of the game to this point.
Blake Martinez nearly intercepts Newton on third and 9. The Packers get the ball back near midfield with 1:55 left until halftime.
On third and 8, Newton avoids a sack and runs it for a huge first down. McCaffrey was there again on a seal block to give Cam space.
Panthers get the ball back at their own 5. Less than five minutes to play in the half.
Aaron Jones with 43 yards on two rushes gets Green Bay into Panthers territory.
Packers get the ball back inside the 10 with 7:17 left in the first half.
Daryl Worley with another interception! Rodgers threw off his back foot under pressure and the Panthers get the defensive play they needed.
Graham Gano kicks a 33-yard field goal and Panthers regain the lead at 10-7.
Panthers moving the ball well again. McCaffrey continues his huge day with a first-down catch on third and 5. Panthers in position to score again.
END 1ST QUARTER: Panthers 7, Packers 7
Packers call timeout on third and 9 in the red zone before Rodgers finds Davonte Adams for the touchdown. 7-7. Rodgers looked like the QB we all know on that drive. End of the first quarter.
Packers going up-tempo in the no huddle on the second drive. Rodgers completes a 23-yard throw to Cobb to get into Panthers territory.
The Packers are the only team to allow points on every opening drive this season. Newton finds McCaffrey to cap a sensational possession for the rookie. Four catches, five carries and a touchdown for the rookie on that drive. 7-0 Panthers.
McCaffrey having a huge first drive with another catch for a first down. Panthers setting themselves up for a touchdown. It's first and goal.
Newton with a simple screen pass to Christian McCaffrey for a big third down play. Looked like the Packers defender was faked out by the play and failed to get to Cam.
A nice run by Newton gets the Panthers out near midfield.
Panthers cornerback Mike Adams breaks up a pass intended for Randall Cobb and the Packers will punt after getting a first down.
The Carolina Panthers (9-4) enter Week 15 with another big home game, this time against the Green Bay Packers (7-6), who embrace the return of stud quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has been out since Week 6 when he broke his collarbone against the Vikings.
The Panthers are going for their fourth straight win at home. Last week, they won a thriller against Minnesota 31-24. A 62-yard run by quarterback Cam Newton gave the Panthers first and goal at the two-minute warning and Jonathan Stewart scored his third touchdown of the day to seal the win.
Charlotte Observer Panthers beat writer Jordan Rodrigue tweeted out an injury update:
Inactives for the Panthers include: QB Garrett Gilbert, CB Captain Munnerlyn, FB Alex Armah, LB Shaq Thompson, G Trai Turner, DE Zach Moore, C Tyler Larsen.
SERIES RECORD — Packers lead 9-5
LAST MEETING — Panthers beat Packers 37-29, Nov. 8, 2015
LAST WEEK — Packers beat Browns 27-21; Panthers beat Vikings 31-24
Don't forget to tweet us your fan pics on Twitter (@WFMY) and use the hashtag #PanthersOn2.
The Packers survived a game against the winless Browns last week by rallying from a 21-7 fourth quarter deficit. The Panthers had six sacks against the Vikings, who had previously allowed just nine sacks on the season.
A dark cloud emerged over an important week for the Panthers on Friday, when it was revealed owner Jerry Richardson was being investigated for workplace misconduct. Sunday, it was announced the NFL would take over the investigation into Richardson's behavior.
Here's some Panthers notes for today's game:
- RB Christian McCaffrey has four touchdowns in the last four home games.
- WR Devin Funchess has a touchdown catch in last two games.
- DE Julius Peppers has 5½ sacks in past four games against former team.
- B Luke Kuechly has at least 100 tackles in six straight seasons.
- DT Kawann Short had two of Carolina's six sacks last week vs. Vikings.
- Panthers assistant DBs coach Richard Rodgers, Sr. is father of Packers TE Richard Rodgers.
