SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 28, 2014
Ravens 38, Panthers 10: Steve Smith hauled in seven catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns against his former team as host Baltimore routed Carolina.
Joe Flacco finished 22-of-31 for 327 yards and three scores and Torrey Smith had a touchdown reception for the Ravens (3-1). Justin Forsett rushed for 66 yards and a score and Lorenzo Taliaferro added a rushing TD for Baltimore.
Cam Newton went 14-of-25 for 197 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Derek Anderson and rookie Kelvin Benjamin had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (3-2). Carolina managed only 67 rushing yards on 26 attempts.
Steve Smith, who left Carolina after 13 seasons as the franchise's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, went over 100 yards in the first half alone. He snagged a pass tipped by teammate Owen Daniels and sprinted to a 61-yard TD to open the scoring in the second quarter and gave Baltimore a 21-7 halftime lead with a 21-yard scoring grab with 1:53 left in the half.
Flacco and Torrey Smith hooked up for a 24-yard touchdown to cap the first series of the second half before Graham Gano's 37-yard field goal pulled Carolina within 28-10. Taliaferro's 1-yard plunge capped an 80-yard drive early in the fourth quarter and Justin Tucker tacked on a 30-yard field goal to complete the scoring.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Former Ravens TE Todd Heap was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in a halftime ceremony. กญ Smith recorded the 46th 100-yard receiving game of his career and his first multi-TD game since Week 1 of the 2011 season. กญ Already missing FB Mike Tolbert and RB Jonathan Stewart because of injuries, the Panthers lost FB Richie Brockel (ankle) and RB DeAngelo Williams (ankle) in the first half.