Panthers take Cardinals with 27-16 win

Cam Newton threw a pair of touchdown passes 1:32 apart in the third quarter as host Carolina pulled away to advance to the NFC Divisional Round.

Newton finished 18-of-32 for 198 yards and Jonathan Stewart rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers (8-8-1) overcame a pair of costly first-half turnovers to extend their winning streak to five and set up a matchup at either top-seeded Seattle or No. 2 Green Bay next weekend. Running backs Fozzy Whittaker and Mike Tolbert each had scoring receptions while Carolina limited Arizona to 77 total yards - the fewest in postseason history.

Third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley threw for 81 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as the Cardinals (11-6) closed the season with three consecutive defeats. Tight end Darren Fells and running back Marion Grice each scored a second-quarter touchdown, but Lindley was picked off inside the 5-yard line by Luke Kuechly and Tre Boston in the final 11:48 to stifle any comeback hopes.

Despite dominating the opening 30 minutes and limiting Arizona to 65 yards, the Panthers trailed 14-13 at the break before going ahead to stay on Newton’s 39-yard screen pass to Whittaker. Ted Ginn Jr. fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Carolina recovered at the 3, setting up Newton’s 1-yard scoring pass to Tolbert to make it 27-14 with 4:04 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers led 10-0 and were on the verge of an early KO before punt returner Brenton Bersin let the ball hit him, leading to a recovery for the Cardinals and a 1-yard TD pass from Lindley to Fells on the first play of the second quarter. Arizona’s Antonio Cromartie returned an interception 50 yards and Grice scored from the 1 with 2:46 left in the half before Graham Gano’s 39-yard field goal made it 14-13 at the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Panthers have permitted a total of 59 points during their five-game winning streak. … Grice’s TD was initially ruled a fumble at the goal line and recovered by Carolina’s Roman Harper, but it was reversed and called a touchdown upon video review because the ball crossed the plane. … Panthers WR Philly Brown (three catches, 37 yards) was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury in the final minute of the first half after falling to the ground on an incomplete pass in the end zone. … Cardinals P Drew Butler had a miserable game in the soggy conditions, averaging 34.8 yards on nine punts.