WHAT IT MEANS

 

"Dear America,

We're the Carolina Panthers, and even though you haven't been paying much attention to us, we're pretty darn good."

In between turkey and naps, the nation couldn't help but notice what the Panthers did in their Thanksgiving debut. In front of their largest viewing audience since the 2003 Super Bowl, they destroyed Dallas, 33-14. It wasn't even that close.

Safety Kurt Coleman set the tone on the third play of the game when he turned a Tony Romo interception into a touchdown. The Cowboys quarterback reinjured the collarbone that forced him to miss seven games when linebacker Thomas Davis sacked him on the final play of the third quarter. By then, the Panthers already had the game well in hand.

The win is Carolina's 15th straight in the regular-season and assures they'll go a whole calendar year without losing in the regular season. Their last non-playoff loss was against the Vikings on Nov. 30 last year.

Next up for the Panthers is a trip to New Orleans on Dec. 6. That game, which was flexed to 4:25, could be a division-clincher. If the Falcons lose either of their next two, Carolina could lock up the NFC South with a win against the Saints.

Panthers fans have long craved respect. Anyone who overlooks them after what they did to America's Team this holiday is simply foolish.

 

TOP PLAYS

 
That was fast

 

Kurt Coleman 35 yard #Interception off Tony Romo returned for a #panthers TD. pick 6! #CARvsDAL#NFLThanksgivingpic.twitter.com/ydrhw6uX4k

— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) November 26, 2015

 

Luke Kuechly's first touchdown since his Boston College days

 

This Luke Kuechly pick six is a thing of beauty. https://t.co/06wfxTc4Nc

— Woot and Wye NFL (@WootandWye) November 26, 2015

 

Twist + Hit Dem Folks + Superman

 

#Touchdown Cam Newton Panthers 30-6 Cowboys pic.twitter.com/27ubXP64xy

— NFL France (@NFLFrance) November 26, 2015

 

NOTABLE NUGGETS

 

--This is what Dallas totaled in the 2nd AND 3rd quarters:

First downs - 2  

Total yards - 21  

Rush yards - 6  

Passing yards - 15  

--Perhaps one of the most important yet least talked about stat in the league: The Panthers have now scored 107 points off turnovers. Their opponents have scored 15 points off turnovers. 

--Former Panthers DE Greg Hardy had as many sacks and tackles as you and me.

--Cowboys WR Dez Bryant had two receptions for 26 yards. One came against Panthers CB Josh Norman. 

--Romo is now 4-1 against the Panthers. 

--The Panthers were 1-9 against the Cowboys in the regular season. Their only win came in the first meeting when Kerry Collins outplayed Troy Aikman on 12/8/97.

--In the Super Bowl era, 11 teams have started 11-0. Of those, eight went to the Super Bowl. Of those, five won it.

 

HEALTH WATCH

 

  The Panthers didn't suffer any noticeable injuries.