Former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has come back to haunt his old team at the break as he has scored two touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens to hand them a 21-7 lead in their NFL clash.

Both teams struggled to move the ball in the first half as they committed costly penalties, while both defenses were proving to be stout against the run.

However, the Ravens opened the scoring early in the second half when former Panthers wide receiver Smith collected Joe Flacco's deep pass and ran all the way into the endzone for the 61-yard touchdown.

Carolina rallied and Cam Newton drove his side methodically down the field, utilising the running ability of DeAngelo Williams, before firing a 28-yard strike to the endzone for wideout Kelvin Benjamin.

Baltimore moved back in front when Flacco engineered a drive that positioned his side in Carolina territory, and then he handed the ball off to running back Justin Forsett, who powered his way into the endzone from 11 yards.

The Ravens were rolling in the second quarter and Smith got his second touchdown of the game when Flacco lofted a deep pass to the veteran and he made the low snag in the endzone for the 21-yard score.