WHAT IT MEANS
The Panthers said all week the Titans were better than their 2-6 record. For about three quarters, that appeared true, but then, Carolina played like the unbeaten team it still is. A 27-10 win extends the Panthers best-ever start to 9-0 and increases their league-best win streak to 13 straight regular-season games.
After struggling to finish in the fourth quarter the past two weeks, the Panthers put away the Titans with 10 points in the final 10 minutes while posting a second-half shutout. It was understandable that Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers made plays. Sunday, the Panthers did what a good team does by not allowing rookie QB Marcus Mariota to do much of anything past halftime.
The win is Carolina's first ever against Tennessee and completes a season sweep of the AFC South.
The Panthers are currently the only team at 9-0. The Patriots can get there Sunday afternoon with a win over the Giants and the Bengals could do it Monday night when they host Houston.
TOP PLAYS
Shaq Thompson hasn't made a ton of plays as a rookie, but some of the plays he's made have been ...
Shaq Thompson! pic.twitter.com/YxjzCUVRaI
— CAROLINA (@ChickenNGreens) November 15, 2015
Seems like Kurt Coleman shows up in this space nearly every week:
Nicely done @k4coleman ???????????? pic.twitter.com/w7xbQA23uu — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 15, 2015
Another weekly thing – Greg Olsen needing just one hand:
So the one-handed catch is @gregolsen88's thing now. #CARvsTEN pic.twitter.com/1tR5x7x1DE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) November 15, 2015
NOTABLE NUGGETS
--QB Cam Newton continues inching toward Hall of Famer Steve Young. Newton scored his 39th career rushing touchdown, second only to Young's 43 for most by a QB since the 1970 merger. Newton also had his 30th game with a rushing and passing touchdown, one behind Young's mark for most since 1970.
--The Panthers rushed for 119 yards, the 20th straight time they've run for at least 100. They're the first team to do that since the 1989-90 Bears. The Seahawks, who host Arizona Sunday night, are currently at 19 straight.
--The Panthers have scored 20 or more points in all nine games this year. The only other time they had a streak that long in the same regular season was at the start of 2005.
--Of the 19 teams who have started 9-0 in the Super Bowl era, all 19 made the playoffs, 11 advanced to the Super Bowl, seven won it.
HEALTH WATCH
CB Charles Tillman limped off with what appeared to be a right leg injury midway through the 4th quarter, but he was back in for the Titans' final drive.
Other than that, the Panthers seemingly got out of Tennessee healthy.
LG Andrew Norwell worked out briefly pregame, but he may be at least another week away.