A game billed as a clash between two of the N.F.L.’s top quarterbacks initially looked like a rout in Carson Wentz’s favor before Cam Newton turned in a fourth quarter for the ages. Having taken the best shots the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles had to give, Newton and the Carolina Panthers walked out of Philadelphia with a shocking 21-17 victory.

“Every win is a statement win,” Newton said before acknowledging that the team was up against the ropes after his bad first half. He added “Moving forward, this is a confidence booster for us.”

The matchup between star quarterbacks was a showcase for Wentz for three quarters. The Eagles’ starter had 208 passing yards in the first half, and had run the score up to 17-0 through three quarters, at one point completing 15 consecutive passes.