LIONS-PANTHERS
Newton, defense lead Panthers over Lions 24-7
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Cam Newton made a successful return to the field, throwing for 281 yards and a touchdown in the Carolina Panthers’ 24-7 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Newton, who missed the season opener with a rib injury, was 22 of 34 and overcame four sacks. Carolina started 2-0 for the first time since 2008.
Trailing 7-6 in the third quarter, the Panthers took advantage of back-to-back Detroit turnovers and scored on three straight possessions.
Carolina’s defense, playing without Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, had three takeaways and held the Lions scoreless in the first half one week after Matthew Stafford and company put up 35 points against the Giants. Hardy, convicted on two counts of domestic violence on July 15, was a surprise inactive.
Stafford threw for 291 yards with one touchdowns and one interception. He was sacked four times.
NHRA
Rain washes out NHRA Carolina Nationals
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) β Rain washed out most of the final eliminations Sunday in the Countdown-opening NHRA Carolina Nationals, forcing series officials to postpone them until next weekend during qualifying rounds for the Texas NHRA FallNationals.
The Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers have three rounds left, and the Pro Stock field was halfway through the first round. The Pro Stock Motorcycle riders have all four round left.
In qualifying Saturday, Alexis DeJoria took the top spot in Funny Car. J.R. Todd was No. 1 in Top Fuel, Erica Enders-Stevens in Pro Stock and Eddie Krawiec in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
The event is the first in the six-race NHRA Countdown to the Championship. The top 10 in each class qualified for the playoffs. Doug Kalitta leads in Top Fuel, John Force in Funny Car, Jason Line in Pro Stock and Andrew Hines in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
JAGUARS-REDSKINS
RG3, D-Jax hurt as Redskins top Jaguars 41-10
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) β Robert Griffin III and DeSean Jackson both left with injuries in the first quarter, and Kirk Cousins stepped in and completed 22 of 33 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns Sunday in the Washington Redskins’ 41-10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Griffin hurt his left ankle and was carted to the locker room with his leg in a splint. Jackson injured his left shoulder.
Cousins subbed for Griffin and completed his first 12 passes. Ryan Kerrigan had four of the Redskins’ 10 sacks, and Washington’s defense didn’t allow Jacksonville past midfield until the final two minutes of the first half.
Washington outgained Jacksonville 449-148.
The Redskins improved to 1-1. The Jaguars are 0-2 for the third consecutive season.
NATIONALS-METS
Ramos, Zimmermann lead Nats to 3-0 win over Mets
NEW YORK (AP) β The Washington Nationals won with Jordan Zimmermann on the mound for a ninth straight start, getting a two-run homer from Wilson Ramos in the seventh inning of a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Zimmermann allowed six hits and a walk in outpitching Jonathon Niese for 6 2-3 innings, helping Washington reduce its magic number for winning a second division title in three years to five.
Drew Storen gave up two hits in the ninth but got Juan Lagares to fly to right, finishing the eight-hitter for his fifth save.
Washington’s ninth win in 10 games this season at Citi Field eliminated the Mets from the division race with 12 games to go. New York had won eight of 10 before the Nationals took three of four in this series.
Zimmermann (11-5) hit two batters to up the total hit batsmen in the four-game series to nine, one shy of the record set last year in a series between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, according to STATS. The right-hander nailed Eric Young Jr. and Lucas Duda but still won his sixth consecutive decision.
