Oakland Raiders Pull Another Comeback Victory, Move Past Panthers 35-32

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Oakland, Calif. — After the Carolina Panthers scored 25 unanswered points and took an one-point lead in the second half, the Oakland Raiders charged back to win the game 35-32 to improve 9-2 on the season.

Derek Carr, who checked out briefly in the third quarter due a finger injury, completed 26-of-38 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and receiver Michael Crabtree caught eight passes for 110 yards for the Raiders.

Carr caused a couple mistakes, throwing a 31-yard interception returned for a score and a fumble early in the third quarter, but proved to be the man of the game for Oakland. Game-winning drives are Carr's area of expertise.

“Really proud of our guys for keeping poise, staying with it, and making enough plays to win today against a really good football team,” Oakland coach Jack Del Rio said. “We knew we’d (Carolina’s) best. Just proud of the guys for hanging in there and finding a way.”

Oakland Raiders head coach talks to the media following his team's 35-32 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 27, 2016. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey.

Running back Latavius Murray, tight end Clive Walford, and receiver Seth Roberts all found the endzone for a score for the Raiders. Defensive end Khalil Mack also did his part in getting the win for Oakland.

Cam Newton completed 14-of-passes for 246 yards, two TDs and one interception for Carolina (4-7). Newton also had an interception that was returned for a score in the first half. The first half was dismal for the Panthers, though they bounced back to score 25 points in the second half, 12 points off of two Oakland turnovers.

“No, the first half wasn’t great,” Newton said. “We got it back, took the lead, but we have to do better as a whole, starting with myself. It’s unacceptable. I don’t know what it was. I just couldn’t get in a rhythm. Making a lackluster turnover late at the end in the half didn’t make it easier for us, either.”

After the game was tied 7-7, the Raiders scored 17 unanswered points, topped off by a 6-yard interception returned for a score by defensive end Khalil Mack with 59 seconds left in the first half.

Oakland’s defense swarmed all over the Panthers in the first two quarters. The Panthers only had a total of 89 offensive yards while the Raiders racked up 190 yards.

Newton scored the Panthers only TD in the first half, a 3-yard run in the first quarter, but the Raiders hassled him for the whole 11:43 he was on the field. Newton only completed 3-of-12 passes for 18 yards.

The Panthers got back into the game when Jonathan Stewart scored on ar 1-yard run and Newton found Ted Ginn Jr. for an 88-yard TD catch. The Panthers failed to convert a 2-point attempt.

In between Carolina’s scores, Carr was briefly in the locker room to have his finger examined. Matt McGloin played for one series before Carr returned for duty. Carr said he was in a “lot of pain,” but x-rays came back negative.

“He has a lot of toughness,” Oakland receiver Amari Cooper said of Carr. “I didn’t doubt he would come back out and play. I asked him, ‘Are you going to play?’ He was like, “Duh.’”

Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers had a slow start against the Raiders, but battled to the end. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey.

On 2nd-and-13 for the Raiders, Carr tossed an interception to linebacker Thomas Davis who carried turned it into a 31-yard return. Five plays later, Stewart got his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run.

Carolina tried another two-point conversion, but it was dropped by tight end Greg Olsen. Panthers still had the 25-24 lead with 1:46 remaining in the third quarter.

The Panthers’ fortunes started when Carr fumbled the ball early in the third quarter that led to Stewart’s score and when the Raiders’ quarterback returned to the field to throw an interception.

Carolina’s offensive surge continued with Newton finding Kelvin Benjamin for a 44-yard TD strike at the 13:26 mark of the fourth quarter, which gave the Panthers a 32-24 lead. The Panthers scored 25 unanswered points.

Carr got on back on track when he threw a 12-yard TD toss to Clive Walford and converted a 2-point conversion a pass to Seth Roberts to tie the game at 32-32 with 8:37 remaining the game.

Crabtree caught a 49-yard and a 15-yard pass from Carr to set up Sebastian Janikowski’s 23-yard field goal at the 1:45 mark.

Starting at the Panthers’ 25-yard line, Carolina moved the ball to Oakland’s 44-yard line. But Carolina stalled on fourth-and-long when Mack forced Newton to fumble and the defensive lineman recovered the ball to end the game.

“He’s a really good football player,” Del Rio said of Mack. “He’s a talented guy that works his tail off and he brings great energy every day. He’s going to get his numbers.

Photo Art and Article by T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer

PRESS INFORMATION:

Carolina ended the Raiders’ defense of six-straight scoreless first quarters when Newton ran for a 3-yard TD late in the quarter. The Raiders only allowed 19 points in the first quarter this season before Newton’s six-point score.
Derek Carr orchestrated his fifth fourth-quarter/overtime comeback.

T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photo Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.

PUBLICITY AGENTS Scoring Summary:

RAIDERS: 1st Quarter (4:48), Raiders got in the scoring column first after Carr found Seth Roberts in the endzone for a 2-yard TD.

7-0

PANTHERS: 1st Quarter (3:10), Cam Newton 3-yard TD run.

7-7

RAIDERS: 2nd Quarter (12:48), Latavius Murray 4-yard TD run.

14-7

RAIDERS: 2 Quarter (6:49), Sebastian Janikowski 23-yard FG.

17-7

RAIDERS: 2 Quarter (00:59), Khalil Mack 6-yard INT returned for TD.

23-7

PANTHERS: 3rd Quarter (10:33), Jonathan Stewart 1-yard TD run (Kicked Block).