Panthers 28, Texans 13
Cam Newton threw a pair of touchdown passes against the NFL's top defense and the Carolina Panthers ended the Houston Texans' seven-game winning streak with a 28-13 road win Sunday at Reliant Stadium.
The Panthers (5-9) have had a tough time holding on to late leads, but they closed this one out when DeAngelo Williams had a 24-yard touchdown run. James Anderson then thwarted the Texans' rally by intercepting a T.J. Yates pass in the end zone.
The AFC South champion Texans (10-4) couldn't get anything going in the first half, as Newton threw touchdown passes to Steve Smith and tight end Jeremy Shockey. Richie Brockel added a 7-yard touchdown run for a 21-0 lead.
The Texans rallied to get within 21-13, but Williams finished off an 80-yard drive with his touchdown run to seal it.
Houston's Arian Foster rushed for 109 yards to surpass 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season.