Panthers vs. Washington live scores, highlights, news, and more

Final score: Panthers 26, Washington 15

Third quarter: Panthers 23, Washington 9

Halftime: Panthers 13, Washington 9

First quarter: Panthers 10, Washington 3

A Washington cheerleader got right back up after getting wiped out by Kirk Cousins near the sideline.

Jordan Reed got ejected for punching Carolina’s Kurt Coleman in the second half.

This catch by DeSean Jackson should not have looked so easy.

Washington’s Chris Baker celebrated sacking Cam Newton with a dab.

Newton got flagged for taunting after reacting to getting hit in the head.

Jonathan Stewart hurdled Josh Norman on his way to a first down.

Newton strolled into FedExField wearing a funky purple hat, which is a special sort of highlight.

Washington slid out of playoff position thanks to a 1-2 record in its last three games. There’s no way Kirk Cousins likes that. But the team can return to the playoff picture with a win in the final game of Week 15.

A Washington victory would also eliminate the 2016 NFC champions from playoff contention. The Carolina Panthers are 5-8 and in danger of a losing campaign one year after tearing through a 15-1 regular season. Cam Newton, last year’s NFL MVP, has regressed in a big way, posting career lows in completion percentage (53.5), yards per pass (6.97), and quarterback rating (78.9). Another poor performance could lead to a big day from the Washington secondary.

And the Washington secondary will look pretty familiar to Newton and the Panthers. That’s where old friend Josh Norman wound up after Carolina pulled back its franchise tag and allowed the game-changing cornerback to become a free agent.

Norman has helped his new team hold opposing passers to a lower rating in 2016 (94.2) than 2015 (96.0), but Washington’s secondary has still taken a step back in several ways despite its $75 million man at corner. Washington has been gashed by passers like Dak Prescott (29 points per game in two appearances this fall), Ben Roethlisberger (300 passing yards, three touchdowns), and Carson Palmer (300 passing yards, three touchdowns) in losses this fall. The team has given up nearly 280 yards through the air in its non-winning performances in 2016.

A limited defense has put the weight of the team’s success on Cousins’ shoulders, and the fifth-year passer has risen to the occasion in fits and starts. Cousins has seven games this season where he’s posted a passer rating higher than 100. That includes a two-game stretch where he dropped 824 yards and six touchdowns on the Packers and Cowboys.

He also has five games where he’s had a rating of 86 or lower, making him look more like Tyrod Taylor than Matt Ryan. His team is just 2-3 when he can’t find the extra gear that makes him look like a franchise player in burgundy and gold.

He’ll have the chance to carve up an underwhelming Panthers defense Sunday. Carolina held opposing quarterbacks to a league-low 72.3 rating in 2015. This fall, that number has jumped more than 20 points to 92.5. Only two teams in the league have given up more passing yards that their 282 per game.

The Panthers expect Josh Norman to have his best game of the season in his first game against his former franchise (SB Nation)

Santa Cam Newton returned to spread holiday cheer to kids and families in Charlotte (SB Nation)

Kelvin Benjamin vs. Josh Norman could be a heavyweight title fight — if Benjamin gets his past his recent slump (Cat Scratch Reader)

The Panthers officially have the league’s most dangerous pass rush (Cat Scratch Reader)