A record-breaking performance from Cam Newton has inspired the Carolina Panthers to a 31-14 half-time lead over the Washington Redskins this evening, with the quarterback's four touchdown passes putting his side on course to go 10-0 for the season.
The hosts made a good start in their quest to become the first team in NFL history to win their first 10 games of the season after posting a losing record, with Kurt Coleman intercepting a long Kirk Cousins pass intended for DeSean Jackson down the middle.
They took full advantage of the early turnover too, with Newton firing a short pass to Jonathan Stewart, who made his way into the corner on the right touchline.
The Redskins are 0-5 when Cousins throws an interception compared to 4-0 when he doesn't, but they set about looking to end that record and hit back shortly afterwards when Cousins this time did find Jackson with a long pass for a 56-yard score.
Newton claimed his second touchdown pass of the opening quarter in the closing stages when he found Mike Tolbert for a three-yard score, but once again Washington hit back immediately afterwards to ensure that they were level at the end of the first.
Andre Roberts collected the kickoff and raced all the way downfield into the endzone for a 99-yard touchdown - their second scoring kickoff return of the season.
The NFC South side took the lead for the third time in the half when Newton picked out Ted Ginn Jr for a two-yard score, although the pass was initially ruled incomplete before the decision was reversed on review.
That saw Newton throw three first-half touchdown passes for the first time in his career, and he was handed a chance to add a fourth when Matt Jones's fumble was recovered by Thomas Davis at the Washington nine-yard line.
He duly obliged, becoming the first Carolina Panthers player in history to throw for four touchdowns in a single half of an NFL game when he found Greg Olsen for the five-yard score.
Another Redskins fumble, this time by Cousins, handed the Panthers possession once more before the half was out, although this time they were forced to settle for a field goal as Graham Gano sent them into the break with a 42-yard kick.
Barney Corkhill
