WHAT IT MEANS
The Carolina Panthers did everything they could to suffer their first loss of the season. Instead, they escaped the Superdome Sunday with a wild, 41-38 win over the Saints.
When QB Cam Newton hit WR Jerricho Cotchery for a 15-yard touchdown pass, it was the fourth lead change of the fourth quarter. The Panthers' defense then held on during one final drive to keep Carolina as the lone unbeaten team in the NFL.
Through turnovers, drops, missed tackles and many, many more errors, the Panthers didn't play like a 12-0 team. But that's what they are. Having already matched a franchise best for most wins in a season, the Panthers magical 2015 just keeps rolling on.
TOP PLAYS
–Where did Drew Brees go?
ICYMI: @ThomasDavisSDTM doing what he does best. #CARvsNO pic.twitter.com/usxToLTQd4
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 7, 2015
–Cam Newton's legs and Greg Olsen's hands
.@gregolsen88 is CLUTCH! #CARvsNO pic.twitter.com/J9eJHaxhus
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 7, 2015
–Newton calls him 'Jerricho Clutchery'
Textbook definition of clutch. #CARvsNO pic.twitter.com/j8ZlOXctIp
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 7, 2015
NOTABLE NUGGETS
–The Panthers won their 16th straight regular-season game, breaking a tie for longest win streak by an NFC team since the 1970 Merger (2010-11 Packers, 1989-90 49ers).
–The Panthers are the ninth team in NFL history to start 12-0. The other eight teams all made the playoffs, six of them advanced to the Super Bowl and four won it all.
–Newton tied his career high for touchdown passes in a single game, which he set two weeks ago against Washington.
–Olsen, who passed Wesley Walls for most career receptions by a TE in Panthers' history, caught nine passes for 129 yards. His top three single-game yardage totals have come this season (134 vs Saints, Week 3; 131 vs Seahawks, Week 6).
HEALTH WATCH
Newton was banged around pretty good in this one. He had a guy fall on his left ankle in the first half, and early in the third quarter, he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Saints LB Michael Mauti near the goal line. Newton ran to the locker room and was OK'd to return by an independent neurologist. He was clearly struggling with something late in the fourth quarter, though.