WHAT IT MEANS
The skids are over. For the first time in the Ron Rivera era, the Carolina Panthers won after a bye week and beat the Seattle Seahawks. It was tough to call it a rivalry considering the Panthers were 0-4, but Carolina came to Seattle and finally knocked off their nemesis.
With the win, the Panthers have tied their best-ever start. They began their Super Bowl season in 2003 at 5-0. Plus, Carolina is the only remaining unbeaten team in the NFC South, now sitting above the 5-1 Falcons.
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- QB Cam Newton notched his 9th fourth-quarter comeback win, and arguably the biggest victory of his career.
- All four Panthers' touchdown drives went for 80 yards.
- Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart scored two rushing touchdowns for the first time since he did it against the Falcons on 11/15/09.
- Panthers TE Greg Olsen had 131 receiving yards
- Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham had 140 receiving yards, his most since he had 179 for the Saints against the Bucs on 9/15/13.
TOP PLAYS
1.The Panthers finally land a knockout blow.
Cam Newton hit Greg Olsen for the game winner in Seattle pic.twitter.com/YD1KNtYmjS
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 18, 2015
2. Panthers S Kurt Coleman covered the trick play well, but he didn't play the ball as well.
Seattle used one of its favorite trick plays for a phenomenal touchdown: http://t.co/B70vgxsBuj pic.twitter.com/YJifQhlTXv
— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 18, 2015
HEALTH WATCH
CB Teddy Williams was knocked out of the game early in the second quarter after taking a knee to the head while making a nice tackle on kickoff coverage. A wobbly Williams, who suffered a concussion in the preseason, had to be helped off the field.
C Ryan Kalil missed just one play after he took a shot to the chest from S Kam Chancellor in the second quarter.
LB Shaq Thompson appeared to injure his left knee covering the ensuing kickoff after the Panthers' game-winning touchdown. Fellow LB Luke Kuechly sprinted onto the field and grabbed Thompson's hand while the rookie was on the turf.