Newton throws for over 400 yards but three INTs help Packers win

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CHARLOTTE - The Green Bay Packers withstood Cam Newton's second straight game with over 400 passing yards, as the Pack won at Carolina 30-23 yesterday.

The league's top draft pick from Auburn threw for 432 yards and a touchdown, after his rookie-record 422 yards in his debut a week ago. Newton also ran for a team-high 53 yards and a score for Carolina. But he tossed three second-half interceptions – two to Charles Woodson – which helped Green Bay overcome a 13-7 halftime deficit.

The Packers lost All-Pro safety Nick Collins in the fourth quarter after his neck was badly twisted. Panthers' running back Jonathan Stewart hurdled over Collins when his upper leg fell onto the defender’s helmet. Collins spent the night at a Charlotte hospital, and will be further evaluated today. But the Packers said he has normal feeling and complete movement in all his extremities. Green Bay nose tackle Ryan Pickett also left in the fourth quarter with a sprained foot. There was no word on how serious that was.

The Packers improved to 2-0, while Carolina fell to 0-2. The Pack plays at Chicago next Sunday.

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Aaron Rodgers completed 19-of-30 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. His 49-yarder to Greg Jennings put Green Bay in front for good early in the third quarter. And an 84-yarder to Jordy Nelson proved to be the deciding score with 2:14 left. The Packers were out-gained for the second straight week. Carolina had 475 total yards to 419 for the Pack. And the Panthers lost despite holding the ball just over five minutes longer. Jermichael Finley was Green Bay's leading receiver with five catches for 68 yards. James Starks had nine carries for 85 yards, and Ryan Grant ran six times for 25 yards. Stewart caught eight passes from Newton for 100 yards, and Steve Smith had six catches for 156 yards.

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Green Bay and Detroit both lead the NFC North Division at 2-0. The Lions crushed Kansas City at home, 48-to-3. The Chicago Bears are in third place at 1-1, after losing at New Orleans 30-13. And the Minnesota Vikings are 0-2, after falling at home to Tampa Bay 24-20.

Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes for the Lions, whose 45-point margin of victory was their largest since November of 2007. Stafford threw for 294 yards, and he was helped by a Detroit defense that forced six turnovers. Jay Cutler threw for 244 yards in the Bears' loss. Matt Forte ran for 49 yards, and caught 10 passes for 117 more. Drew Brees torched the Bears' defense for three touchdowns and 270 yards. The Vikings lost in the final minute on LaGarrette Blount's four-yard touchdown run for Tampa Bay. Adrian Peterson had two touchdowns and 120 rushing yards, in Minnesota's first game under its new roof at the Metrodome.

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Racine County native Tony Romo broke a rib in the first half, and then returned to help give the Dallas Cowboys a 27-24 overtime win at San Francisco. Romo, who’s from Burlington, engineered the game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. And then in the OT, he hit Jesse Holley with a 77-yard pass to set up Dan Bailey’s 48-yard game-winning field goal. Romo completed 20-of-33 passes on the day for 345 yards and two touchdowns.

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