Final
  for this game

Panthers' Martin picks off Colts' chance at first win

Nov 27, 2011 - 11:13 PM Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Sherrod Martin's interception with 35 seconds remaining sealed the Carolina Panthers' 27-19 victory over the winless Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts took over their own 28 with 3:09 to play and marched down the field. Faced with a 4th-and-5 from the 15, Austin Collie caught a 12-yard pass over the middle. Just two plays later, Curtis Painter's pass to Collie in the back of the end zone hit off the wide receiver's hands and set up an interception. Martin managed to catch the ball and get both feet in.

DeAngelo Williams carried the ball 15 times for 69 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers (3-8), who snapped a 12-game road skid.

"It always goes back to those guys in the room because they've been through so much," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said. "For us to get this one was important and something we can build off of and use as a springboard going forward."

Cam Newton completed 20-of-27 passes for 208 yards. He also carried the ball nine times for 53 yards and a score.

Painter connected on 15-of-29 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown for the Colts (0-11), who are off to their first 0-11 start since 1986.

"I can't really touch on the performance, but at least we were able to put ourselves in a position to win in the second half," Painter said. "We played much better and moved the ball well right there at the end. Got a couple scores, got a chance to score again. But again, we were in it, we had a shot at the end, just a little short."

Reggie Wayne caught five passes for 122 yards and a score. Donald Brown carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards and a touchdown.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Olindo Mare's 40-yard field goal with 4:07 left in the first quarter.

Newton recorded his 10th rushing TD of the season on Carolina's next drive. Steve Smith got the march going with a 30-yard catch. Newton capped the six- play drive with a 14-yard score for a 10-0 lead with 14:03 left in the half.

The Colts promptly responded with a touchdown of their own. A 42-yard defensive pass interference penalty put the ball at the Carolina 17, and Brown used his legs to score.

Adam Vinatieri's 43-yard field goal with 1:46 left made it 10-10. That was the score at the half after Olindo Mare's 45-yard field goal was blocked.

Williams put Carolina back in front with a 25-yard TD run with 9:13 to go in the third quarter.

A Jeremy Shockey fumble gave the Colts the ball at their own 39. Wayne's 40- yard catch led to Vinatieri's 31-yarder at the end of the third.

The Panthers used an eight-play, 80-yard scoring drive to increase their lead. Smith and Shockey caught big passes on the march to move the ball to the two. From there, Williams rumbled into the end zone for a 24-13 edge with 10:23 left in the game.

Wayne came right back with a 56-yard TD catch, but the two-point conversion failed.

Mare added a 41-yard field goal with 5:53 remaining to make it a 27-19 contest.

Game Notes

The Panthers lead the all-time series 4-1...The Colts lost their first 13 games in 1986...Carolina won on the road for the first time since a 41-9 victory over the Giants on December 27, 2009...With 122 receiving yards, Wayne (11,400) surpassed Keenan McCardell (11,373) and Rod Smith (11,389) and moved into 22nd place on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list...Vinatieri finished the contest with eight points on two field goals and two extra points. With his point total, he has now amassed 1,714 career points, which surpasses Nick Lowery (1,711) for ninth place on the NFL's all-time career points list.