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LANDOVER, Md. Antonio Gates Chargers Jersey . -- So much for Cam Newton vs. Robert Griffin III. For the ticked-off players in the visitors locker room, it was more like the Carolina Panthers vs. Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff and Bobby Mitchell. Newton and the Panthers broke a five-game losing streak Sunday, topping Griffin and the penalty-prone Washington Redskins 21-13, prompting coach Mike Shanahan to essentially throw in the towel on the season. Newton threw for 201 yards, ran for 37, played part of the game with a bloodied thumb and didnt look his usual disconsolate self when he sat with the familiar white towel on his head between drives. But what really fired up Newton and his teammates was the fact that they had been deemed the "homecoming" opponent by the Redskins, who wore 1937 throwback uniforms and welcomed back dozens of former stars. Carolinas DeAngelo Williams, whose 30-yard touchdown score was his longest run of the season, was so miffed that he raised the issue in a pregame speech and still had the "Game Day" program sitting in his locker after the game and said he might frame it. "I look on there and it says homecoming. And Im thinking to myself: This is the National Football League. Are you serious? Homecoming," Williams said. "And its not like you tried to hide it -- you blatantly put it on the front of the Game Day. And youre talking about somebody fired up today? I was (ticked). "It was the whole team. That was definitely motivating. You dont say youre going to have a homecoming in the National Football League. You do it in college. Its one of those teams thats just terrible. You dont book, like, a good team for homecoming." Williams rubbed it in with a series of tweets afterward, and Newton also brought up the issue without any prompting. "I think it was their homecoming, which was kind of embarrassing for us to be in," said Newton, whose 82-yard pass to Armanti Edwards was among the highlights of a 13-for-23 performance. "And that was a challenge. I think some of the guys took that and put it as a chip on their shoulder." Maybe the Panthers (2-6) need to find other novel sources of motivation. They entered the game with their season fading fast after four consecutive losses by a combined 12 points. There were questions about whether the team had any leaders and whether Newton had the makeup to assume such a role. Now, at least for a week, such questions get a hiatus. "Its a huge morale thing," said Steve Smith, whose 19-yard reception in the second quarter was his first touchdown catch of the season. "Its like the biggest morale thing you could ever have. Times are tough right now, and its good to build on." The Redskins (3-6), meanwhile, didnt behave very nicely in front of the franchises former stars as they lost their third straight. Already leading the NFL in penalties entering the game, Washington committed 13 infractions for 97 yards, including a pair of pass interferences and one roughing the passer. "Thats what nauseates you," Shanahan said. Shanahan, 14-27 in his third season with the Redskins, now foresees another year out of the playoffs. "You lose a game like that, now youre playing to see who obviously is going to be on your football team for years to come," Shanahan said. "Ill get a chance to evaluate players and see where were at." Griffin remains the Redskins must-watch player. He completed 23 of 39 passes for 215 yards, ran 11 times for 53 yards and was sacked four times. But a tide-turning play came when he was stopped on a fourth-and-goal run at the 2, ending a drive that lasted 10:11 with no points and the Redskins trailing 7-3. The Panthers responded by marching 98 yards, aided by personal foul and pass interference penalties. Newtons thumb was bleeding during the drive, and he stained his white uniform from wiping the thumb on his pants. But he got the thumb bandaged and carried on, enough to hit Smith with the pass that put Carolina ahead by 11 at the half. The Redskins cut the deficit to 14-6 with a field goal in the third quarter, but the worst pass defence in the league yielded another big play. Edwards catch set up Newtons 1-yard run to give Carolina a 15-point lead early in the fourth. Washingtons only touchdown came on Evan Roysters 2-yard run with 1:28 remaining. Soon after, the last two quarterbacks to win the Heisman Trophy were meeting at midfield for a postgame embrace. Griffin said Newton offered his phone number and said to be in touch. "Were both two young quarterbacks in this league, trying to get better, trying to lead our teams to victory," Griffin said. "I told him that I think his team has a lot of talent and the possibilities are endless for them. I feel the same about our team." NOTES: An official blew an inadvertent whistle during Williams touchdown run, but the crew met and decided it did not affect the outcome of the play. "By the time the whistle blew, he had already crossed the goal line," referee Carl Cheffers told a pool reporter. ... Injuries: Panthers WR Kealoha Pilares (shoulder), Redskins WR Santana Moss (concussion). Griffin had sore ribs; X-rays were negative. ... Panthers K Justin Medlock was short on a 50-yard attempt, his first miss of the year. Philip Rivers Camo Jersey . In a memo sent by the commissioner Friday and obtained by The Associated Press, Goodell said no single team has any "presumptive right" to play in Los Angeles and that only the league as a whole can make a decision on relocation. Ryan Mathews Pink Jersey . Parker had 33 points and 10 assists, and the San Antonio Spurs erased a 17-point deficit on their way to a 104-97 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. http://www.sandiegochargersteamstore.com/philip-rivers-jerseys .Y. -- Sarah Reid of Calgary has won the womens skeleton World Cup race at Mount Van Hoevenberg, edging teammate Mellisa Hollingsworth. Takeo Spikes Jersey . And after just 71 regular-season games, the Lakers decided Brown wasnt the man for a pressure-packed job. The Lakers fired their coach on Friday after a 1-4 start to his second season in charge, making one of the earliest coaching changes in NBA history. Philip Rivers White Jersey . Russell, the 34-year-old former University of Miami player ranked 83rd in the world, has never won a singles title in ATP Tour play.DURBAN, South Africa -- Jean de Villiers was named Springboks captain on Monday for the three-test series against England as new South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer also had to defend some of his surprising selections in his first squad. Meyer, who took over this year, picked experienced centre De Villiers to lead the Boks against England, and plans to review the decision ahead of the southern hemispheres four-nation rugby championship in August. The 31-year-old De Villiers, who has played 72 tests for South Africa since his debut in 2002, said "my heart was in my throat" when he was told on Sunday by Meyer that he would succeed John Smit as captain. "This is an honour that is not bestowed upon many people and I really hope I can do my country proud," De Villiers said. "I do realize there is massive responsibility that comes with this position. The real hard work only starts now." Meyer said that part of the reason for picking De Villiers as leader was the impressive way he had captained a young and inexperienced Stormers team to the top of the South Africa conference in the Super 15 competition. "Jean commands respect from everyone in South African rugby and in the short space of time weve worked together, Jean has shown that he understands what we want to achieve on the field," Meyer said. However, despite De Villiers Cape Town-based Stormers being the best-performing South African team in the Super 15, Meyer only selected three of the teams players in his 32-man squad for the England series, leaving out former squad regulars Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh and emerging flanker Siya Kolisi. Instead, Meyer named 13 members of the Bulls -- a team he used to coach -- in his group, leading to suggestions of provincial bias by some members of the South African media. Also surprisingly excluded was Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Brussow, a key member of the World Cup squad and viewed as a crucial ball wwinner for the Springboks at the breakdown. Malcom Floyd Youth Jersey. Meyer said he was happy with his selection, and Brussows absence was temporary and a tactical adjustment for the England series. The "core" of the players were just for the three tests, Meyer said. "Therell always be criticism, but Id like the country to get behind the team," Meyer said. "I think this is the best squad going forward, each guy now needs to pick up his hand and show he needs to be in the team. "Heinrich Brussow is a brilliant player and I just think its a matter of time before he is selected again. The game keeps on changing and you need to pick horses for courses. I really feel sorry that hes not in the team, but I also feel happy for the youngsters that have been picked." Meyer brought nine uncapped players into his squad as South Africa moved on from the era of Smit and Victor Matfield, who as captain and vice-captain led the country to World Cup glory in France in 2007 and played more than 100 tests. The pair retired from international rugby after last years World Cup in New Zealand, when former coach Peter de Villiers also left. The Springboks also lost a host of senior players, including influential scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, to overseas clubs. Japan-based Du Preez and forwards Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw and Gurthro Steenkamp all were left out of Meyers first group, while experienced players Schalk Burger, Juan Smith and Andries Bekker will miss the England series with injury. South Africa plays Stuart Lancasters England -- which also is in transition -- on consecutive weekends in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. Meyers squad will have just six days together before the first test on Saturday. "Obviously theyve had a lot of time to prepare and they did really well in the Six Nations," Meyer said of England. "But I really want to focus on our players and the time weve had." ' ' '