Newton, Panthers stand tall in win over Falcons

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and scored on a 72-yard run as the Carolina Panthers defeated the Atlanta Falcons 30-20 on Sunday.

Newton piled up a career-high 116 yards on the ground as the Panthers racked up 475 total yards to avenge an early-season loss with a dominating performance against the NFC South champion Falcons.

Carolina (4-9) came in with little to play for except to gain a measure of revenge on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, whom they felt disrespected them after Atlanta's 30-28 come-from-behind win earlier this season at the Georgia Dome.

Ryan threw for 342 yards and two scores and had a costly fourth-quarter interception.

The Panthers dominated the Falcons through 2½ quarters, opening a 23-0 lead and holding a 356-86 edge in total yards to snap a five-game losing streak against the Falcons (11-2).

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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