WHAT IT MEANS
Never a doubt, right?
The Carolina Panthers blew a 17-point fourth-quarter lead before coming back to beat the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football. Kicker Graham Gano, who missed an extra point early in the fourth quarter, redeemed himself by booting a 52-yard field goal with 5:22 left in the extra period giving the Panthers a heart-stopping 29-26 win.
The Panthers end Week 8 as the only unbeaten team in the NFC, extending their franchise-best start to 7-0. Their 11th straight regular-season victory is the longest hot streak in the NFL.
Combined with Atlanta's loss on Sunday to Tampa Bay, the Panthers are now two games ahead of the Falcons in the loss column at the top of the NFC South standings.
TOP PLAYS
One of many from safety Kurt Coleman:
HUGE play by @k4coleman on 3rd-and-1!!! #INDvsCAR pic.twitter.com/KBre49OyAj
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 3, 2015
Human's this big aren't supposed to make plays like this:
Cam Newton is not human: https://t.co/gigzNUz9nD pic.twitter.com/oh0VdMxhMi — SB Nation (@SBNation) November 3, 2015
Corey Brown is nothing but a memory:
@Panthers TD!!! @CameronNewton to Philly Brown 23-6 Carolina @wcnc pic.twitter.com/pjg3Px1M7U
— Chris Clark (@Cdclarksports) November 3, 2015
Graham Gano's first walk-off kick in Carolina
VIDEO: Graham Gano 52 yard field goal wins it in overtime for the Panthers. https://t.co/hAz8A7CKKA
— MarcusD (@_MarcusD_) November 3, 2015
NOTABLE NUGGETS
- In the Super Bowl era, 32 teams have started 7-0 and all 32 made the playoffs. Fifteen of those 32 advanced to the Super Bowl with nine of those teams winning the whole thing.
- The Panthers improved to 15-20 in prime time. They’ve won two straight after losing their four previous prime time games by a combined score of 141-63.
- The Panthers shut out the Colts in the first quarter. Carolina has allowed just 15 points in the first quarter this season, second-fewest in the NFL behind the Broncos, who haven’t given up a point in the opening quarter.
- The Panthers rushed for 138 yards, extending their franchise-best streak to 18 games with at least 100 rushing yards.
- Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart lost a fumble for just the second time in his last 606 carries.
HEALTH WATCH
Left guard Andrew Norwell walked straight to the locker room after the Panthers' first drive. He never returned after his hamstring tightened. Chris Scott and Amini Silatolu filled in the rest of the way.
Center Ryan Kalil, who missed his first game since 2012 because of an ankle injury, worked out on the field briefly before the game but was then back in a walking boot.
Linebacker Shaq Thompson, who missed his second straight game, was tossing passes during pregame. His sprained knee could be ready for a return in time to face the Packers next week.