CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton showed he has no intention of changing the way he plays the game. The fourth-year quarterback shook off some early rust and returned to his fearless style of play, helping Carolina defeat the Detroit Lions 24-7 on Sunday, capping a distraction-filled week for the Panthers. In his first start since fracturing his ribs in a preseason game, Newton threw for 281 yards and a touchdown and ran for 19 yards on four carries, He helped the Panthers improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2008 and grab sole possession of first place in the NFC South. Newton shook off a slow start and completed 22 of 34 passes and overcame five sacks. "I felt like I was getting antsy early on and that comes from a lack of playing time," Newton said. "... I was getting my feet back under me and as the game went on I started feeling more comfortable and it showed." Wearing a thick flak jacket, it took a while for Newton to find his stride. He scrambled from the pocket on one second-quarter run and dived headfirst instead of sliding. It was similar to the play against New England on Aug. 22 that left him with cracked ribs and sidelined him for the season opener against Tampa Bay. Later in the fourth quarter Newton ran again, turning the corner inside the 5 and diving toward the pylon. "He is obviously going to be sore," Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. "He cant help himself (and) he ran a couple of times. He did the best he could with it. The thing that Im pleased with is once he got the rust off he settled down and made some really good decisions." Earlier in the day Rivera made a difficult decision to deactivate Pro Bowl defensive end Greg Hardy, saying that the NFL "culture has changed" and the team needed to make the right decision. The decision came one day after the Minnesota Vikings announced they would deactivate Adrian Peterson, who was indicted on child abuse charges on Saturday, Hardy was convicted July 15 on two counts of domestic violence and Rivera didnt think it was right to allow him to play given the events of the week. "It was my decision and it was in the best interest of the Carolina Panthers," Rivera said. Carolinas defence didnt seem to miss a beat. The Panthers had three takeaways, four sacks and held the Lions scoreless in the first half one week after Matthew Stafford and company put up 35 points against the Giants. Mario Addison helped fill the void left by Hardy with 2 1/2 sacks, and cornerback Antoine Cason had 10 tackles, two forced fumbles and a recovery. The Panthers were a plus-3 in the turnover battle for the second straight week. "We turned the ball over too many times, particularly in scoring territory," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. The Lions (1-1) took a 7-6 lead early in the third quarter when Stafford connected on a 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jed Collins, who bowled over NFL Defensive Player of the Year Luke Kuechly en route to the end zone. But the lead was short-lived. Newton bounced back, leading the Panthers on an eight-play, 72-yard drive, connecting on his first TD pass of the season, a 14-yard strike to Jason Avant on a slant route. Thomas DeCoud tipped a deep ball from Stafford and Melvin White intercepted to set up Carolinas next score. Rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who struggled with dropped balls all day, hauled in a one-handed grab along the left sideline. Jonathan Stewart capped the drive with a 2-yard run and Newton threw to Jerricho Cotchery for a 2-point conversion to put Carolina up 21-7. The Panthers put the game away in the fourth quarter when Jeremy Ross fumbled a kickoff that kicker Graham Gano recovered. Gano added his third field goal of the game for the final score. The Lions failed to take advantage of their scoring opportunities in the first half, setting the tone for the game. Rookie Nate Freese missed two field goals, Joique Bell fumbled in Carolina territory and Johnson dropped a potential TD catch. "When you dont take advantage of your opportunities you miss chances and turn the ball over, youre not going to have a good day," Stafford said. NOTES: Newton apologized to Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh after the game, saying he didnt mean anything offensive earlier in the week when he referred to him as "Donkey Kong Suh." ... Caldwell said he "wont make any rash decisions" on whether to keep Freese as the kicker after his two misses. ... Lions cornerback Nevin Lawson was carted off the field with a foot injury and did not return. Nike Schoenen Aanbieding . It took five games, but the Celtics finally helped Stevens earn his first NBA victory. "Im going to celebrate for a whole 12 minutes, and then Im going to start watching Orlando and trying to figure them out," the first-year Celtics coach said after Boston beat the Utah Jazz, one of the leagues other winless teams, 97-87 on Wednesday night. Nike Schoenen Online Kopen . - The Washington Redskins have signed free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn. http://www.nikeschoenenoutletnederland.com/. Bjoergen pulled away from Swedens Charlotte Kalla on the final straight to win in 38 minutes, 33.6 seconds and defend her title from the 2010 Vancouver Games. Kalla was 1.8 seconds back. Heidi Weng of Norway took bronze. Goedkope Nike Schoenen Outlet . 5 Trade Deadline is drawing closer and teams will be deciding on whether to buy or sell. Nike Schoenen Outlet Nederland . - Pete Rose didnt want it to be about him, not on a day when four new members were elected to baseballs most exclusive club.HOUSTON -- The crowd at Minute Maid Park on Friday night was filled with New York Yankees fans. Despite that, when David Robertson emerged from the bullpen in left-centre field in the ninth inning, boos rained down on him and didnt stop until well after hed thrown his first pitch. It wasnt anything personal. The Yankees fans were simply hoping for another chance to watch Mariano Rivera close out a game. Robertson got the save as Rivera looked on, and the Yankees got a glimpse of their future in a 3-2 win over Houston on that sent the Astros to their team-record 13th consecutive loss. "I did not take any of the boos personally," Robertson said. "I can understand why the fans would want to see Mariano. Theres two games left now ... and fans kind of hope to see him pitch again. But well see what happens." After the game, New York manager Joe Girardi said Rivera told him he wasnt available to pitch on Friday, a night after Riveras emotional farewell at Yankee Stadium. Girardi will check with him again on Saturday. Girardi said the 43-year-old Rivera can play centre field this weekend if he wants to. "Ill talk to him every day to see what he wants to do," the manager explained. "I know hes talked about playing some centre field, but I know he has some concerns about his leg. Thats really up to him. If he wants to do it, he can do it. Im OK with it." David Adams hit a two-run double and Mark Reynolds also drove in a run for the Yankees, who stopped a four-game losing streak. Houston dropped to 51-109, the most losses for a major league team since the 2004 Arizona Diamondbacks went 51-111. The Astros 322 losses over three seasons are the fifth-most in big league history according to STATS, ahead of only the 1962-64 New York Mets (340), the 1963-65 Mets (332), the 1915-17 Philadelphia Athletics (324) and the 1940-42 Philadelphia Phillies (323). "Its been real tough losing 13 straight," Houston third baseman Matt Dominguez said. "Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and Sunday and get wins and end the year on a good note, build a bit mmore confidence heading into spring training.ddddddddddddquot; Adam Warren (3-2) allowed two hits and struck out four in five scoreless innings as New York started the final series of a disappointing season in which the team failed to reach the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years. "I think it should give him a lot of confidence for next year for what hes done for our club this year in a lot of different roles that weve used him," Girardi said of Warren, who has mostly pitched in relief this season. "Very pleased with the step forward he took this year and he needs to build on it." David Phelps gave up Brett Wallaces two-run double in the seventh, and Joba Chamberlain struggled before Preston Clairborne and Robertson closed it out. Robertson, who got his third save, figures to inherit the closer role Rivera has held since 1997. Hes looking for a better reception when he takes the mound next season. "I really hope so," he said. Houston starter Brett Oberholtzer (4-5) yielded three runs -- two earned -- and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. Robinson Cano singled with one out in the fourth, Alfonso Soriano walked and Reynolds singled to drive in the go-ahead run. Dominguezs error allowed Soriano, and Adams doubled just inside the fence in the left-field corner. Houston struck out seven times, increasing its franchise-record total this season to 1,511. They are 18 shy of Arizonas record, set in 2010. NOTES: New Yorks Andy Pettitte will make his final start before retiring on Saturday against Paul Clemens. The 41-year-old Pettitte, who is from nearby Deer Park, played for the Astros from 2004-06. "To be able to make my last start here in my hometown is going to be extremely special," he said. "Everybody that Ive grown up with ... and that instilled things in me is going to be here. So its going to be a really exciting day for me. And its fitting, I believe." The Astros honoured Pettitte in the middle of the fifth inning on Friday night by presenting him with the framed No. 21 jersey he wore when he played in Houston. ' ' '