Panthers rout Cincinnati

The 1-12 Bengals got a solid outing from Jon Kitna, but must now work to avoid the worst record in franchise history.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Steve Smith and the Carolina Panthers took out a season worth of frustrations on the bumbling Cincinnati Bengals.
Smith scored three touchdowns -- two on punt returns -- and had a career-high 313 yards total to lead the Panthers to a 52-31 victory over the Bengals on Sunday.
Carolina (5-8) won its second straight game, set a franchise record for points, scored the most points against the Bengals in team history, had a season-high 401 yards and improved to 3-0 this season against AFC North teams.
Highlights
Rodney Peete went 21-for-29 for a season-high 319 yards -- 4 yards short of his career high -- and threw three touchdowns passes. Smith had five catches for a career-high 144 yards, and Muhsin Muhammad had eight catches for 106 yards as the Panthers tied Oakland for the NFL points lead.
"It was definitely a game we got going on all cylinders, in particular the passing game," Peete said. "We were able to move the ball up and down the field on them and take advantage of them. The guys were getting wide open and made some circus catches to keep drives going."
Cincinnati (1-12) got a solid outing from Jon Kitna, who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, but must now win two of its final three games to avoid notching the worst record in franchise history.
"It is hard to keep losing and to know that after the game is over, you can't come into the locker room and give everybody high-fives and pats on the back," receiver Peter Warrick said. "It is tough to come in and tell guys not to worry about it and to keep your head up."
Smith has had to keep his head up for most of this troubled season.
An All-Pro kick returner as a rookie last season, Smith hasn't matched the success and has yet to break out as a regular receiver. He came into the game with two touchdowns, none on returns.
Beat up teammate
Plus, he was suspended for one game for beating up teammate Anthony Bright in a film session and is facing assault charges for it.
Smith is undergoing counseling, but his teammates have been cautious in welcoming him back.
"I don't have to show the team anything -- they showed me that they trust me by letting me play," Smith said. "I'm just trying to be a pro, to remember where I came from. I've got to remember where I am and how fortunate I am to be in the NFL.
"I have to practice well and be the new Steve."
He's been doing that, and had a breakout game against the Bengals.
Smith's first score came on a 61-yard return, when he juked his way past the initial tacklers and streaked down the sideline for the TD to give Carolina a 16-7 lead in the second quarter.
He caught a 31-yard touchdown pass from Peete in the third quarter to put the Panthers up 23-17.
Smith put the game out of reach when he scored on an 87-yard punt return, giving the Panthers a 37-24 lead and breaking Winslow Oliver's team-record 84-yard return in 1996.
"Steve has come to work every day more focused, trying to get his career right because it was in jeopardy," Carolina tight end Wesley Walls said.