Packers rout Carolina 38-17, Rodgers has 3 TDs

(AP) — The Green Bay Packers had a fine plan for neutralizing Carolina's running game: dominate on offense.

Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, Randall Cobb torched the Carolina secondary for 121 yards on six catches and the Packers rolled to a 38-17 victory on Sunday.

Sure-tackling Green Bay (5-2) limited quarterback Cam Newton in the first half. The Packers scored touchdowns on their first three series and led by 28-3 at halftime, eliminating the threat of the Panthers' ground game.

Newton, who had a career-high 17 carries last week, had 41 yards rushing on seven attempts. He passed for 205 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown for Carolina (3-3-1).

The Packers scored on their first series after Rodgers connected with Jordy Nelson for a 59-yard scoring strike and never looked back to win their fourth straight. Eddie Lacy and James Starks each added rushing touchdowns in the first half.

Rodgers was 19 of 22 for 255 yards before leaving early in the fourth quarter with the game well in hand. It was Rodgers' sixth straight game without an interception, tying Bart Starr for the franchise record set in 1964.

The Panthers finally got their first touchdown with 9:43 left in the fourth quarter after Newton found 6-foot-5 receiver Kelvin Benjamin for a 13-yard score.

Packers fans still celebrated with their team up by 28, belting out a hearty chorus of the "Beer Barrel Polka" during the break.

Nearly everything went right for the Packers in the first half, when nearly everything went wrong for the Panthers.

Carolina had pushed Green Bay back to third-and-12 on Packers 28 on the first drive when the Panthers were whistled for two straight neutral zone infractions. Rodgers scrambled for three yards on third-and-2 before finding Nelson for the long touchdown pass.

Nelson got behind cornerback Antoine Cason, who then slipped. Safety Roman Harper watched Nelson sidestep around him and jog all the way into the end zone.

It was a sign of things to come.

Carolina was held to a three-and-out. Green Bay's next drive ended with Lacy high-stepping into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 5:53 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers helped out on that series after getting caught with too many men on the field on third-and-3 to give the Packers a first down.

Carolina's frustration mounted as the deficit grew.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly was ejected late in the third quarter. Last season's Defensive Player of the Year appeared to swing a leg in the direction of Green Bay tight end Richard Rodgers as he was getting up after scrambling for a fumble that was recovered by the Packers at the Carolina 37.

Kuechly swung his arms and seemed agitated as he was restrained from behind by back judge Steve Freeman. The linebacker calmed down when he turned around and saw the official, who threw a flag with about two minutes left in the quarter.