The Carolina Panthers have clinched a 17-13 win over the Cleveland Browns to keep their hopes of reaching the NFL playoffs alive.

After Graham Gano opened the scoring for the hosts, Johnny Manziel made sure that he avoided a second shutout in a row with the Browns, getting the AFC North side into field goal range early on.

Cam Newton, who returned from a week out with a back injury, found Kelvin Benjamin and Ed Dickson to get the Panthers back down the field shortly before the end of the second quarter.

The quarterback kept the ball himself on the next play, running it in for the touchdown from two yards out to leave Carolina ahead at the break.

Manziel came back out with the Cleveland offense late on, but injured his hamstring while being tackled, leaving Brian Hoyer to start the second half.

Newly-signed Cleveland kicker Garrett Hartley added the only points of the third quarter, splitting the uprights to cut the home side's lead.

Hoyer put the Browns ahead for the first time when he completed a long pass to Jordan Cameron, and the tight end ran the remainder of the way for an 81-yard touchdown.

Newton quickly got the Panthers back into Cleveland territory though, and was able the edge the hosts back in front with a short pass to running back Jonathan Stewart.

Stewart was involved again later on, with a big run inside the final two minutes sealing the win for the hosts, leaving them facing a winner-takes-all game against the Atlanta Falcons for the NFC South title and a playoff spot next week.