KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers and safety Abe Elam left Sunday's game with injuries, leaving Kansas City short in the defensive backfield against the Panthers' Cam Newton.
Elam left with what the team characterized as a left leg injury. Flowers hobbled to the sideline with a hamstring injury after making a tackle late in the first quarter.
On the next play, Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith beat backup cornerback Neiko Thorpe for a 23-yard touchdown catch that gave Carolina the lead.
Panthers linebacker James Anderson left the game with an eye injury. It was unclear when Anderson was hurt.
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