CHARLOTTE – Some late-season games without playoff implications lack intensity.
Not this one. Not the Panthers' 17-6 victory over the Oakland Raiders in the team's home finale at Bank of America Stadium.
Carolina's victory on Sunday –its third consecutive win – was as physical a game as the Panthers have played all season. And it was plenty feisty with six combined personal fouls.
"It was one of those games where you had to have a gutty performance," head coach Ron Rivera said. "(The Raiders) came in and played with a lot of energy. We matched that energy, and it was a dogfight."
Wide receiver 
"A lot of people try to judge us on how hard we play. Why are we playing so hard? We don't have anything to play for," said linebacker
Shortly after Smith's score with 3:12 left in the first quarter, Panthers defensive end
The pass fell incomplete, but Hardy was penalized for roughing the passer. Palmer suffered a rib injury on the play and did not return, giving way to backup Matt Leinart.
Leinart engineered an 11-play, 73-yard scoring drive in the second quarter that led to a 21-yard field goal from Sebastian Janikowski.
The Raiders took over with two timeouts at their disposal, but three plays later, the ball was in the hands of linebacker
The rookie – who finished with a game-high 13 tackles – stepped in front of a pass down the right seam for Denarius Moore and returned his second career interception to the Oakland 29-yard line.
"I was just trying to read off what (Leinart) was looking at, and he was looking there for quite a while," Kuechly said. "I made a break on the ball and was able to make a play."
A 22-yard screen pass to running back
Following an Oakland three-and-out to start the second half, Panthers punt returner
But Oakland moved back 10 yards after three plays and punted.
"It doesn't matter what position we are put in. As a defense, it's our responsibility to stop the offense," Davis said. "We were able to go out and do that today."
Newton's streak of 176 passes without an interception – a franchise record – was broken on the final play of the third quarter.
Linebacker Miles Burris picked off a deflected pass intended for Smith, giving Oakland the ball at the Carolina 18-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
On third-and-nine, safety
Two plays later, running back Darren McFadden – who had just 33 yards on 17 carries – trotted into the end zone, but his 3-yard touchdown run was called back for holding.
The Panthers then forced two incompletions, and Oakland settled for a 31-yard Janikowski field goal with 13:18 remaining in the fourth quarter. The scoring drive: seven plays, five yards.
"With me throwing the pick, it put my team in a bad situation," Newton said. "Those guys (on defense) stepped right up and held them to a field goal."
Added Rivera: "The defense was outstanding. I was real proud of how those guys were put in a couple of tough situations and played good red zone defense."
Trailing 14-6, the Raiders made a late push for the game-tying score with just over five minutes left, but on fourth-and-4 from the Carolina 24-yard line, Hardy broke up a swing pass intended for McFadden.
A 19-yard run from Newton, followed by a 20-yard completion to tight end
After forcing Oakland to burn all three timeouts, Gano converted a 51-yard field goal to give Carolina a two score advantage with 2:46 to go.
"I wanted that kick," Gano said. "I was hoping that I would have that opportunity since I had missed that earlier one."
The Panthers forced another turnover on downs before running out the clock for their first three-game win streak since 2009.
"Our players are learning and growing," Rivera said. "This football team most certainly has developed and shown what we can potentially become."
