Rookie LB Miles Burris recorded his first career interception. AP Photo.
The Carolina Panthers defeated the Oakland Raiders 17-6 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. in 2012 Regular Season Week 16 action.
The Raiders won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their choice to the second half. K Sebastian Janikowski's opening kickoff sailed through the end zone for a touchback and Carolina started at their own 20 with Cam Newton at quarterback.
Carolina picked up a couple of first downs before the Raiders forced a punt as CB Phillip Adams broke up a pass intended for WR Steve Smith on 3rd and lond from the Panthers' 42.
Adams returned P Brad Nortman's punt 3 yards to the Raiders 21. Carson Palmer started at quarterback. On the second play from scrimmage, QB Terrelle Pryor ran the wild cat, threw a lateral to Palmer who completed a bass back to Pryor for 22 yards. The drive stalled near midfield and P Shane Lechler came on to punt. WR Joe Adams called for and made a fair catch at the Carolina 12.
The Panthers struck first with a 23-yard TD pass from Netwton to Smith. K Graham Gano's extra point was good and Carolina led 7-0 with 3:12 to go in the 1st quarter.
RB Mike Goodson fielded the ensuing kickoff in the end zone and took a knee for a touchback and the Raiders started at the 20. The Raiders drive stalled at midfield and Lechler came on. During the drive, Palmer was speared in the back and had to leave the game. Carolina was called for roughing the passer and Matt Leinart entered the game at quarterback.
Joe Adams called for and made a fair catch at the Carolina 16. The Raiders forced a 3-and-out and Nortman came on to punt. Phillip Adams fielded the punt and pitched it to safety Mike Mitchell who was dropped at the Oakland 24.
Leinart led the Raiders on an 11-play, 73-yard drive which culminated in the 21-yard Janikowski field goal, which cut Carolina's lead to 7-3 with 6:25 left in the 2nd quarter.
RB Armond Smith returned the ensuing kickoff to the Carolina 20. Several plays later, Gano missed a 48-yard field goal and the Raiders took over at the 38. Three plays later, LB Luke Kuechly picked off a Leinart pass and returned it to the 29. Carolina took advantage with a 3-yard Newton scramble for a touchdown. The extra point was good and the Panthers took a 14-3 lead with 17 seconds left in the 2nd quarter.
Gano's kickoff sailed out of the end zone for a touchback and the Raiders started the 3rd quarter with the ball at the 20. The Raiders went three and out and the Raiders forced a Joe Adams fumble during the punt return, which TE Richard Gordon recovered at the 32.
The Raiders went three-and-out and Lechler's punt went out of bounds at the 8. The Panthers drive stalled at the 30 and Nortman came on to punt. WR Denarius Moore was dropped at the 16 for no gain on the punt return.
The Raiders drive stalled at the 41 and Lechler came on to punt. WR Armanti Edwards called for and made a fair catch at the Carolina 9. A few plays later, LB Miles Burris recorded his first career interception and returned it to the Carolina 18.
The Raiders settled for a 31-yard Janikowski field goal, which cut the Panthers lead to 14-6 with 13:18 left in the 4th quarter. The Raiders gave up one first down on the Panthers next possession and forced a punt. After the punt, the return and offsetting penalties, the Raiders started at the 23. The Raiders drove to the Panthers 24 but Leinart's 4th down pass was deflected and Carolina took over on downs.
The Panthers settled for a 51-yard Gano field goal, which gave the home team a 17-6 lead 2:46 left to play.
Goodson's returned the ensuing kickoff 26 yards to the Oakland 21. The Raiders turned the ball over on downs and the Panthers took over at the Raiders 19, with 1:54 left in the game.
The Raiders fall to 4-11 and head to San Diego next week to close out the 2012 season against the Chargers.
