The Panthers
- Are 2-0 for just the sixth time in their history (1996, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2014). 2002 was the only year they didn’t make the playoffs after they won their first two games. The last time they were 3-0 was in 2003.
- Are 17-2-1 when scoring at least 20 points since the start of 2013.
- Set a record for the longest regulation game in team history. Sunday's game dragged on for three hours and 39 minutes.
- Will be all alone as the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense as long as the Jets don’t shut out the Colts on Monday night.
- Faced 58 pass attempts from Texans QB Ryan Mallett, the second-most by a Panthers opponent in team history. No. 1 remains Brad Johnson’s 61 attempts for the Bucs on 9/14/03.
- Gave up 61 rushing yards. They've held opponents to under 100 yards on the ground in eight of their last nine regular-season games.
- Held the Texans to 5-for-19 on third downs a week after the Jaguars went 3-for-12.
- Didn’t convert their first third-down conversion until 3:36 in the third quarter. They started 0-for-6 and went 4-for-13 for the game.
- Have allowed a total of 55 points in the fourth quarter over their last 12 regular-season games.
- Rushed for 172 yards, the 13th straight time they’ve hit the century mark. The streak is the second-longest in team history and the longest current streak in the NFL.
- Have won their last five regular-season games when passing for fewer than 200 yards.
- Gained 41 yards on their first 16 plays and then 74 on their next five, a drive that ended with a Ted Ginn touchdown.
- Were penalized 10 times for 92 yards, their most penalties since they had 11 against the Bucs on 11/18/12. Last week, the Panthers had just three penalties for 22 yards, their fewest ever in Week 1.
- Evened their record against the AFC South to 7-7.
Panthers Player Stats:
- Coach Ron Rivera won his only challenge of the game, improving his career challenge record to 7-for-20.
- QB Cam Newton had a 71.3 passer rating for the second straight week. The Panthers are now 6-12 when Newton has a passer rating below 72.0. He had both a touchdown pass and a touchdown run for the 25th time in 64 career games. That’s the second-most in NFL history behind Hall of Famer Steve Young, who took 146 games to do it 25 times.
- FB Mike Tolbert had 31 rushing yards, his most since he ran for 48 against the Bucs on 12/1/13.
- WR Ted Ginn has six receiving touchdowns in 18 career games with the Panthers. That’s the same amount he had in 104 games with the Dolphins, 49ers and Cardinals.
- WR Philly Brown has caught five of his seven targets from Newton during the regular season after the two went 0-for-9 during the preseason.
- TE Greg Olsen was targeted 14 times, which ties a career high (vs. Giants on 9/20/12). Olsen led the Panthers with 70 yards receiving a week after his 11 receiving yards were his fewest since he had no receptions in the final two games of 2011.
- DT Dwan Edwards had a sack to up his total to 14 in 43 games with the Panthers. He had 5.5 in his previous 83 games with the Bills and Ravens.
- LB A.J. Klein had his first career interception.
- LB Shaq Thompson, who didn't have a stat in Week 1, had four tackles.
- LB David Mayo made two special teams tackles in his NFL debut.
- S Kurt Coleman had nine tackles, his most since 12/30/12 when he was with the Eagles.
- K Graham Gano has either missed or had blocked his last four field goal attempts of 50+ yards after making seven straight from that distance from 2013 through Week 2 of 2014.
- P Brad Nortman booted four of his seven punts 60 or more yards. His gross punting average of 53.9 yards tied for the second highest of his career.
Texans Player Stats:
- RB Alfred Blue started and had five carries for six yards, equaling the total for QB Ryan Mallett.
- WR DeAndre Hopkins had five receptions for 53 yards on 11 targets a week after he caught nine of his 13 targets for 98 yards and two touchdowns.
- DE J.J. Watt had a sack in his seventh straight game. That was his only tackle of the second half.