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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- There were some worries over how Kelvin Benjamins return would affect the Carolina Panthers chemistry on offense.Not anymore.Make no doubt it, the Panthers wide-shouldered, long-legged 6-foot-5, 245-pound wide receiver is back -- and the defending NFC champion Panthers are better for it.Concerns over whether reigning league MVP Cam Newton would focus too much on Benjamin -- and not spread the ball around enough like he did during his MVP season a year ago -- were put to rest after the Panthers racked up 529 yards in a 46-27 win against a San Francisco team that shut out the Rams last week.Benjamin caught seven of the nine passes thrown his way for 108 yards and two touchdowns , and the Panthers scored on eight of their 12 possessions. He has three TDs on the season after missing all of 2015 with a torn left ACL.But it wasnt all about Benjamin, which is the best part for the Panthers (1-1), who extended their home winning streak to 14, including the playoffs.Tight end Greg Olsen was huge too, catching five passes for 122 yards, including a career-long 78-yard touchdown pass in which he was wide open on a seam route. Ted Ginn Jr. caught two passes for 51 yards, and Devin Funchess hauled in one of Newtons four TD passes.In all, Newton targeted different receivers and seven players caught at least two passes.Benjamins presence also helped open up Carolinas running game, with backup Fozzy Whittaker rushing for a career-best 100 yards on 16 carries. All told, the Panthers had 176 yards on the ground and 26 first downs.Olsen called Benjamin a game changer, who forces defenses into tough matchups.With his size and catch radius you can throw there and trust that hes going to protect that throw, Olsen said. We force teams to guard every inch of the field with our run game, our pass game, and our quarterback with his strength. Its a collective group effort and were going to try to keep that going.For Newton, Benjamin provides an incredible security blanket.Of all the highlight reel catches Benjamin made, perhaps the biggest was a 25-yard reception on third-and-10 after the 49ers cut Carolinas lead to 34-27 in the fourth quarter. Newton fired over the middle and Benjamin leaped to make a grab between two defenders.A few plays later, Graham Gano converted a 49-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game. Carolinas defense forced two Blaine Gabbert turnovers to close out the win.Most of the DBs that were on me were small, and I was able to jump and get the ball, Benjamin said.Hes extremely special, Newton said. He makes my life extremely easy.Time and time again, Benjamin has been able to make big catches over the middle, take hits and move the chains. When asked how it feels to take that punishment, Benjamin said, You have to ask the other (defensive backs) because they bounce off of me .Said Newton: You cant coach that. I told him and Devin (Funchess) that God gave them the three Ss: size, speed and strength. To have all three of those things is just unbelievable.That makes it difficult for defenders.Hes a big body, said 49ers safety Antoine Bethea. They have a couple of guys out there with big frames. Cam (Newton) just puts the ball within their wide catch radius, and (Benjamin) goes up and catches it. Thats a plus they have in those kinds of guys on the outside.What coach Ron Rivera loves best about Benjamin is his unselfishness. He doesnt have a prima donna attitude and regularly says his only goal is winning games.Its going to be very hard to defend us moving forward, Benjamin said. Right now Im the guy catching most of the touchdowns, but the next game I might not be that guy. You never know who will be that guy.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Paul George Shoes For Sale . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Paul George Shoes Outlet . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. https://www.cheappaulgeorgeshoes.com/ .C. United of Major League Soccer. United chose the defender in the second round of the 2013 MLS re-entry draft. Cheap Paul George Shoes . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Wholesale Paul George Shoes . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No.PITTSBURGH -- All Jimmy Paredes was thinking about was catching the ball. Same with Jake Elmore. Not that concentration helped. Russell Martins bases-loaded fly ball popped out Paredes glove when he ran into the second baseman with two outs in the ninth inning, and the second missed catch of the night by a Houston right fielder helped the Pittsburgh Pirates rally past the Astros 5-4 Friday. "Im anticipating the ball being hit to me, just like I do on every pitch," Paredes said. "All Im thinking about is catching the ball for the third out. Thats all I wanted to do. I was watching the ball and then I hit into him. Sometimes things like that happen in this game, and its frustrating to lose like this." Houston manager Bo Porter said Paredes, who was charged with an error, should have peeled off and let Elmore make the play. Paredes collided with second baseman Jose Altuve on Monday night while chasing a pop fly at Detroit. "Its not a lack of communication, because theres only one person that should be communicating," Porter said. "The infielder is not saying anything. If he gets underneath the ball, the outfielder is running in and hes looking at the infielder. And if the infielder is waving his hands and under the ball, you let him take the ball." That wasnt Houstons only fielding foible. Down 4-1, Pittsburgh started its comeback in the sixth when Chris Carter, usually a designated hitter, dropped Andrew McCutchens fly ball to right for a three-base error and Garrett Jones followed with a double. Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer in the eighth, a 462-foot drive that cleared the right-field stands and went into the Allegheny River on one hop. Starling Marte singled off Edgar Gonzalez (0-1) leading off the ninth, and Travis Snider hit into a forceout, with the Astros failing to turn a double play with a late relay throw to first by Elmore. McCutchens single put runners at the corners, and Gonzalez fielded Brandon Inges comebacker and dropped it for an error as he turned to throw to second, missing his chance to start an inning-ending double play. Neil Walker took a called third strike with a full count, and Martin lifted a full-count pitch to short right-centre field, where Elmore settled under the ball and Paredes slammed into him as the ball hit his glove and fell to the field. "In that situation, the crowd is so loud that you cant hear anybody calling for the ball," EElmore said.dddddddddddd "We had already let one ball drop, and I didnt want to a second one to fall, too. I was waving my arms, hoping Jimmy would see me, but he had his eye on the ball the whole time." Justin Wilson (4-0) pitched a scoreless ninth as the Pirates (25-17) won for the seventh time in eight games to move a season-high eight games over .500. "This games crazy sometimes," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The crowd helped us there on the error. They made it tough on the fielders and they created a break for us." McCutchen homered and had three hits for Pittsburgh. Houstons 11-31 start is its worst and matched Miami for the poorest record in the major leagues. Astros starter Jordan Lyles allowed two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in five innings and is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in six career starts against Pittsburgh. Pirates starter Jeanmar Gomez gave up four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in 4 2-3 innings. Houston built a 4-1 lead on Jason Castros sacrifice fly in the first and a three-run third that included Matt Dominguezs solo homer, Elmores run-scoring single and a throwing error by Walker at second. McCutchen homered in the first. "Our defence has been one of our strong suits pretty much the whole year," Porter said, "but tonight we did not play good defence and we put ourselves in position where it cost us the ballgame." NOTES: The Pirates placed RHP Jose Contreras on the bereavement list and recalled RHP Jared Hughes from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... Altuve missed his third straight game because of the death of his grandmother and will be activated from the bereavement list prior to Saturday nights game. Elmore likely will be optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma. ... Astros RHP Bud Norris will start Tuesday against Kansas City rather than Sunday against Pittsburgh. He left Mondays start because of lower back spasms while warming up for the sixth inning. RHP Lucas Harrell and LHP Dallas Keuchel both had their turns moved up a day. Harrell will face the Pirates on Sunday and Keuchel will pitch Monday against the Royals. ... LHP Philip Humber accepted an outright assignment to Oklahoma after Houston designated him for assignment last weekend. Humber was 0-8 with a 9.59 ERA in nine games, including seven starts, for the Astros. ... LHP Erik Bedard (0-2, 6.67) will start Saturday night for Houston against RHP A.J. Burnett (3-4, 2 ' ' '