Wentz helps soaring Eagles tame Panthers for fifth win

[October 13, 2017]  (The Sports Xchange) - Quarterback Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes as the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-23 in a match-up of NFC division leaders at Bank of America Stadium on Thursday.

Philadelphia (5-1) won its fourth game in a row and became the NFC's first five-game winner as Wentz was 16-of-30 for 222 yards and no interceptions.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Panthers (4-2) needed to go 69 yards in 2:03 without a timeout. They reached the Philadelphia 48 before a failed fourth-and-one pass.

Trailing by five earlier, Carolina regained possession at its 23-yard line with 5:49 left. Courtesy of a fourth-down pickup, the Panthers reached the Philadelphia 41.

Three plays later, Jalen Mills intercepted Cam Newton's pass with 3:06 to play, but the Eagles ended up punting again.

Philadelphia scored on two drives of less than 20 yards after Carolina turnovers, then drove 75 yards with Wentz throwing 24 yards to Nelson Agholor on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Eagles' lead grew to 28-16.

The Panthers scored with 8:04 remaining on Newton's one-yard pass to running back Christian McCaffrey.

Newton finished 28-of-52 for 239 yards with one touchdown pass and three interceptions.

Patrick Robinson's interception of a pass that running back Jonathan Stewart dropped gave Philadelphia the ball at the Panthers 17-yard line less than a minute into the second half.

Two plays later, tight end Zach Ertz caught a 17-yard touchdown pass. A Carolina penalty on the extra-point kick resulted in the Eagles going for a two-point conversion, with LeGarrette Blount running in for an 18-10 lead.

A 20-yard field goal by Graham Gano less than three minutes later cut the Panthers' deficit to 18-13. Jake Elliott's 48-yard field goal boosted the lead to 21-13 before Gano's 46-yard boot cut the gap to five points again.

 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) passes the ball in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers lost linebacker Luke Kuechly, a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, in the second quarter. He was placed in the concussion protocol.

Newton ran 16 yards untouched for a touchdown, giving Carolina a 10-3 lead with 10:34 left in the second quarter.

Rasul Douglas' interception of a pass that Newton threw while he was being hit set up the Eagles at the Carolina 12-yard line.

It took seven plays -- including a fourth-down conversion -- for Philadelphia to score, with Wentz hitting Ertz on a one-yard pass play.

Philadelphia outgained the Panthers 123-28 in the first quarter. The Eagles opened the scoring on Elliott's 50-yard field goal. Gano tied it later in the first quarter with a 39-yarder.

The Eagles drove into Carolina territory on the game's first possession, but were thwarted by Wentz's fumble. It marked only the second game this year Philadelphia did not score on its opening possession.

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