National Football League

Latest from the NFL: Panthers' Newton rolling vs Falcons

Published Dec. 13, 2015 2:55 p.m. ET

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The latest from NFL games on the 14th Sunday of the regular season (all times EST):

2:55 p.m.

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton shook off a hand injury to throw his third touchdown pass of the first half against the Atlanta Falcons.

Leading 21-0, Newton appeared to bang his left, non-throwing hand on an opponent's helmet after completing a pass, and was forced to come out of the game for one play.

Derek Anderson stepped in and threw a 24-yard pass to Philly Brown for a first down.

Newton returned and completed the drive with a 4-yard TD pass to Ed Dickson on a slant route, giving the Panthers a 28-0 halftime lead. Newton was enjoying his best half as a pro, completing 12 of 17 passes for 246 yards and three TDs for a QB rating of 152.6.

Newton's top target, Greg Olsen injured his knee late in the first half and the team said his return is questionable. Olsen walked off the field under his own power and appeared to be fine.

Olsen ran out of the tunnel for the second half and had his helmet on and appeared ready to return.

- Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina

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2:35 p.m.

Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. is adding to what is already a career season.

The nine-year NFL veteran hauled in touchdown receptions of 74 and 46 yards in the first quarter for Carolina, which jumped out to a 21-0 lead against Atlanta.

Ginn has a career-high eight TD receptions, including four in the last five quarters. He has six TD receptions in 13 quarters against NFC South rivals this season.

- Steve Reed reporting from Charlotte, North Carolina

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2:20 p.m.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is back on the sideline with his right hand in a black cast. He hurt his thumb while making a tackle on an interception return.

It's his first injury since he missed half of the first game in his 2011 rookie season with an injured wrist.

The Bengals have been one of the least-injured teams in the league, but they've also lost tight end Tyler Eifert, who's being examined for a concussion and won't return. He leads the league in TD catches.

- Joe Kay reporting from Cincinnati

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2:15 p.m.

St. Louis' seven-quarter slump without a touchdown has ended. It just took the defense to do it.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown, stepping in front of Detroit's Calvin Johnson on a pass thrown by Matthew Stafford. The play gave the Rams a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

It was Johnson's team-leading fifth interception of the season. He missed the past two games with a thigh injury.

- R.B. Fallstrom reporting from St. Louis

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2:10 p.m.

Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith had his franchise-record streak of 312 consecutive passes without an interception snapped in the second quarter Sunday by Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett.

Smith had not thrown a pick since Sept. 28 in Green Bay. He was 6 of 7 against the Chargers before lofting a pass down the sideline that Wilson caught as he slid across the soggy turf.

The interception was confirmed after a video review.

Smith passed the streak of Bernie Kosar (308) earlier in the game, making his the second-longest in NFL history. Tom Brady went 358 passes without an interception in 2010-11.

- Dave Skretta reporting from Kansas City, Mo.

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2:05 p.m.

Jimmy Clausen has finally produced some points against the Seattle Seahawks.

Clausen and the Chicago Bears were blanked 26-0 by the Seahawks in September. Now a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Clausen went 2 for 2 for 33 yards in a drive that produced a second-quarter field goal.

Clausen is the sixth quarterback since 1950 to start at quarterback for two different teams against the same opponent.

Signed off waivers last month, Clausen started Sunday in place of the injured Matt Schaub.

- David Ginsburg reporting from Baltimore

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2:00 p.m.

Sammy Watkins is the first Bills receiver with a 40-yard catch in three straight games since Terrell Owens in 2009.

Watkins' latest big play was a 47-yard TD reception in the first quarter against Philadelphia. He caught Tyrod Taylor's deep pass down the right sideline, eluded a tackle and ran into the end zone.

Watkins had 267 yards receiving and three TDs in Buffalo's previous two games.

- Rob Maaddi reporting from Philadelphia

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1:50 p.m.

Seattle rookie running back Thomas Rawls hurt his left ankle in the first quarter of a game against the Ravens and will not return.

The injury occurred during the Seahawks' opening drive Sunday. Rawls was hit behind the line and dropped for a 3-yard loss on a play with 5:36 remaining.

Rawls gained 44 yards on six carries before leaving the game.

Rawls was getting extended playing time as the replacement for the injured Marshawn Lynch. The rookie came into the game with 786 yards rushing on 141 carries.

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1:40 p.m.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been ruled out for the game against Pittsburgh after injuring his right thumb while making a tackle on an interception return in the first quarter.

Dalton tried to make a shovel pass to running back Giovani Bernard, but defensive end Stephon Tuitt picked it off at the 7-yard line. Dalton helped bring him down, came to the sideline and was seen by a trainer. AJ McCarron started warming up.

It's Dalton's first injury since his first game as a rookie, when he missed half a game against Cleveland with an injured right wrist. He led the NFL in passer rating heading into the game.

- Joe Kay reporting from Cincinnati

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1:30 p.m.

Phil Dawson has been welcomed back by Browns fans he thrilled for 14 seasons.

The steady kicker returned to Cleveland as an opposing player for the first time since he signed as a free agent with San Francisco in 2013.

Dawson, who is second on the Browns' career scoring list, received a standing ovation after a video tribute of his time in Cleveland was shown on the stadium scoreboards.

Dawson waved to the crowd and touched his hand to his chest in appreciation.

The 40-year-old made 305 field goals with the Browns, who elected not to re-sign him.

- Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland

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12:55 p.m.

Terrelle Pryor's finally getting the chance to show off his receiving skills.

The former Oakland and Ohio State quarterback, who changed positions to prolong his NFL career, is active for Sunday's game against San Francisco and the Browns are expected to play Pryor as they try to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Pryor spent training camp with Cleveland but was one of the team's final cuts. The Browns have long been intrigued by his size and athleticism and they re-signed the 6-foot-4, 233-pound Pryor on Dec. 2.

It's possible the Browns will give Pryor a few snaps at quarterback. Johnny Manziel is back in the starting lineup after being benched two games for bad behavior.

The Browns are thin at receiver with Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel both sidelined with concussions. Also, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed a two-year contract with $9 million guaranteed during the offseason, was inactive for the eighth time - seven as a healthy scratch.

- Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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