ERST LESEN! » He also banged his head. The s

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cam Newton threw for 162 yards and led scoring drives on two of his four series Saturday and the Carolina Panthers defeated the Tennessee Titans 26-16 in a preseason game.The game was delayed about 30 minutes because of lightning late in the third quarter.Newton went 8 of 12 before leaving midway through the second quarter. He opened the game by leading a 93-yard drive that included a 61-yard completion to Ted Ginn Jr.Ginn caught Newtons pass about 10 yards downfield. Antwon Blake missed a tackle as soon as the catch was made, then the 31-year-old Ginn outraced the other Titans to the end zone.Hes probably one of the fastest guys in the NFL, Newton said. Thats not a reach. He is. Of course they will (mention) his age, but this is what I say. .... I feel as if when Ted comes to Carolina, this is only team that probably used him in the receiver position the way he wants to and is supposed to.I think so much of his career hes been labeled a return specialist, and in the return game, you may have one or maybe two opportunities to prove yourself, so that leaves a lot of tread on the tires for him.This was the second straight week the Titans have allowed an opponent to score a long touchdown on its opening series.We take pride in trying to make sure we make stops and put our offense in the best situation, Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey said.To put them behind like (that) to start the game was very unacceptable for us as a defense. We pride ourselves on trying to be the No. 1 defense in the league, and to be that we cant allow things like that to happen.That opening series also featured two completions to Kelvin Benjamin, who missed the 2015 season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament after a big rookie year. Benjamin caught a 16-yard pass on the games first play from scrimmage and had a 13-yard reception on a third-and-7.Newton also led a 49-yard drive that ended with Graham Ganos 41-yard field goal.Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota directed three series and went 9 of 10 for 104 yards with one touchdown and an interception. On his final pass, Mariota rolled right and found Harry Douglas in the right corner of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown.Mariota is 14 of 15 through two preseason games.POSITION BATTLESPanthers: Carolinas listed first-team cornerbacks on the depth chart were rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley, but two other cornerbacks (Bene Benwikere and Zack Sanchez) intercepted passes Saturday. Benwikere started Saturdays game at nickel. The Panthers are retooling the cornerback position after All-Pro Josh Norman signed with the Washington Redskins and Charles Tillman retired.Titans: Wide receiver Tajae Sharpe strengthened his bid for a starting spot, as the fifth-round pick from Massachusetts had six catches for 68 yards while Mariota was in the game. He made some bigger catches today, some big catches we havent had here in a while, Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. The Titans shook up their receiving group Tuesday by trading 2015 second-round pick Dorial Green-Beckham to the Philadelphia Eagles for offensive lineman Dennis Kelly.INJURY UPDATESPanthers: Tight end Greg Olsen didnt play because of back spasms. Tight end Ed Dickson also didnt play. ... Safety Travell Dixon injured his chest in the first quarter. ... Safety Trenton Robinson injured his shoulder in the first half. ... Wide receiver LaRon Byrd was being evaluated for a concussion in the second half.Titans: Cornerbacks Jason McCourty (hip flexor) and Perrish Cox (ankle), wide receiver Kendall Wright (hamstring), and outside linebackers Kevin Dodd (foot) and Aaron Wallace (ankle) didnt play.ROOKIE WATCHPanthers: The playing time earned by Bradberry, Worley and Sanchez suggests all three will have featured roles at cornerback this season. Bradberry is a second-round pick from Samford, Worley a third-rounder from West Virginia and Sanchez a fifth-round selection from Oklahoma. ... Jalen Simmons, a free agent from South Carolina State, caught a 6-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.Titans: Derrick Henry, a second-round selection from Alabama, had five carries for 31 yards. ... Third-round draft pick Kevin Byard of Middle Tennessee fumbled a punt return, though the Titans recovered. ... Alex Ellis, a free agent from Tennessee, had a 9-yard touchdown catch with 1:55 left.QUOTABLEPanthers: I think we started pretty fast, and thats what you want to do -- start fast and finish fast, too, Newton said.Titans: Weve got to do something about the first drive, Mularkey said. Its two weeks in a row. Its more than two weeks. Its (happened to us) in the past as well.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLRenell Wren Youth Jersey . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. Jessie Bates III Womens Jersey . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. 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Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup.TORONTO --The Seattle Mariners won the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 Friday night behind the dominant pitching of James Paxton.The left-hander struck out nine in seven innings and held the Blue Jays to three hits, including a home run by Michael Saunders.Seattle sends out another hot pitcher Saturday afternoon in the second game of the series in Hisashi Iwakuma (10-6, 4.01 ERA), who is going for his fifth consecutive win.The right-hander pitched seven scoreless innings while surrendering two hits and a walk while striking out eight on July 16 against the Houston Astros. He is 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA in his past four starts and is 9-2 with a 3.75 ERA in his past 11 outings.This will be his fourth career start (fifth appearance) against Toronto. He is 3-1 with a 2.40 ERA against the Blue Jays. He is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in two games at Rogers Centre, including one start.Iwakuma faces right-hander R.A. Dickey (7-10, 4.11). The knuckleballer took the loss against the Oakland Athletics on July 16, allowing five runs on five hits in six innings as the Blue Jays fell 5-4. Overall, he is 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA in his past 10 starts after overcoming his usual slow start.In 13 career games (five starts) against Seattle, Dickey is 5-3 with a 4.22 ERA.Both teams have had to juggle their lineups lately. The Mariners Shawn OMalley and Luis Sardinas will be sharing shortstop while regular shortstop Ketel Marte recovers from mononucleosis.Does it affect us? Yes, Seattle manager Scott Servais admitted. Hes been our regular shortstop. But Sardinas is up here with OMalley, and those two will mix and match. Theyll share the duties. I dont want to put too much on one guy. I think OMalley has done a nice job for us in the three games that hes filled in. Again, were not looking for the spectacular. Make the routine play and battle at the plate.ddddddddddddOMalley got the start Friday night and was 1-for-4.Toronto catcher Josh Thole, usually is the personal receiver for Dickey, was pressed into service Friday night after regular catcher Russell Martin suffered a twisted left knee after becoming lightheaded in a sauna Thursday, an off day in the schedule. He said he is hoping to return Sunday but meanwhile, the Blue Jays are restricted with what they can do. With Martin out they cannot run or hit for Thole, to say nothing of what they might do in the case of an injury.An MRI of the knee on Friday revealed no structural damage.Martin said he went to the sauna without having eaten much. He stayed in a bit too long and felt woozy, so he took a cold shower. After a minute in the shower, he passed out.The next thing I know Im on the ground, Martin said before the game Friday. I had dropped the shower hose on my face and Im on the ground ... I woke up and I had the shower curtain half on my body.He also banged his head. The small bump on his head is no problem but the knee is still sore.Its probably going to be sore, but Ive played through soreness before, Martin said. Knowing that theres no structural damage kind of puts my mind at ease. Its just going to be one of those years where I have to grind it out.If Martin needs more than a couple of days, the Blue Jays have little catching depth in their system and may have to look outside for help behind the plate.Toronto infielder Darwin Barney was in left field Friday for the second straight game, his first two career games in the outfield. Ezequiel Carrera, who has been resting a sore Achilles tendon, was used as a pinch-hitter Friday and could return Saturday. ' ' '