CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jonathan Stewart ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns, Thomas Davis returned a fumble 46 yards for a score and the Carolina Panthers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 30-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
In a game reminiscent of last season’s NFC championship, a 49-15 Carolina victory, the Panthers jumped to a 24-0 lead and kept the pressure on Carson Palmer all day.
Carolina, which has struggled to generate a pass rush all season, sacked Palmer eight times _ three of those by Star Lotulelei _ and forced two turnovers. The Panthers also limited running back David Johnson to 24 yards rushing.
Forced into a one-dimensional game, Palmer finished 35 of 46 for 363 yards with three touchdowns, two to J.J. Nelson.
After losing their last two games on last-second field goals, the Panthers left no doubt about this one.
Carolina (2-5) needed a boost to save a sinking season and got one from Davis, their longest-tenured player and emotional leader, on the opening series. Lotulelei sacked Palmer, who attempted to push the ball forward to avoid the sack while in the grasp of the 315-pound defensive tackle. Davis picked up the loose ball and delivered a stiff arm on the way to the first touchdown of his 12-year NFL career.
Davis later left with a left knee injury.
Stewart added touchdown runs of 2 and 1 yards to push the lead to 21-0 against an Arizona defense that hadn’t allowed a touchdown in its previous two games.
The Cardinals (3-4-1) battled back within 30-20 and had the ball at the Carolina 36 with 3:18 left. But defensive end Kony Ealy tipped Palmer’s pass and intercepted it to help seal the Carolina win.
