CHARLOTTE — If anyone in Charlotte knows where Tracy Smith can get a good Butterball turkey for Thanksgiving, he's taking suggestions. Someone suggested to the Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator he try Honey Baked Ham.

"If anybody can beat that, I'll take it," he said.

That's fortuitous thinking by Smith to plan ahead, in a city where his family is still learning the lay of the land. But the bulk of his focus this week is on the Kansas City Chiefs and slowing down that barrel roll. He and the Panthers have a weapon at their disposal though, in kicker Eddy Piñeiro.

Over the bye week, Piñeiro moved into first place on the league's all-time accuracy list, with an 89.381 field goal percentage. The accolade was awarded to Piñeiro in part due to Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker missing two field goals in Week 11, knocking him out of the top spot and down to 89.348 percent.

But Smith thinks the actual credit should go to another factor.

"I noticed immediately that I wasn't getting enough credit for it," Smith deadpanned Thursday when asked about the achievement. "I thought the things that have changed in Eddy have been innumerable.

"When I spoke to him first in the spring and I suggested that he use his right leg this year, I thought that was a real turning point for him to get him from two to one."

There is no world in which Piñeiro has ever kicked with his left leg, but don't tell Smith. Let him have this victory lap.

In addition to Piñeiro becoming a prominent right-footed kicker, Smith also notes his kicker's legendary focus as the reason for the league-leading number.

"It's a happenstance of a guy who shows up every week ready to do his job," Smith said. "He's an extremely consistent person, so it makes him a consistent kicker.

"As much as he celebrates after the kick, before the kick, he's as smooth as you'll ever see. They're all the same to him: the PATs, the 53 (yarder), the game winner, there's no difference when he's approaching it, and then just all the emotions explode at the end. Really fun to work with him week to week."

Piñeiro was a limited participant on Thursday with what was listed as a left knee. He was a full participant on Wednesday.

Facing the best

There is much to be made, and much will be made about facing Patrick Mahomes this week. Defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is familiar with the passer after being in the same division during his time with Denver. As such the coach knows first-hand what Mahomes can do on the field and to a defense.

"He's obviously a great player, one of the best players in our league, and he's, in terms of throwing the ball, keeping players alive, playing off schedule, he could do everything," Evero said. "He's intelligent, he sees the field and there's really no weakness to his game.

"He's complete…he can play on schedule. If the first read is there, he's that guy's getting the ball. He's accurate. He can stretch the field with every part of his arm. So, he can play the quarterback position just by being traditional, and then he has that extra layer of extended plays."

Wonnum wowing coaches and teammates

D.J. Wonnum made his presence known in his first game back from injury, totaling six tackles, two for loss, a sack, two quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble in the win over the Giants.

"He's been talking about it all year about coming back and playing (saying) it ain't going to be nothing for me," outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney shared on Thursday of Wonnum's mindset heading into his first game.

Simply having Wonnum's presence on the field helped the front seven. Defenses were forced to split their attention between the two edge rushers, and even as more of the focus stayed on Clowney, it allowed Wonnum to break through.

"I was getting a lot of slides throughout the season this year and they couldn't really, even though they slid in the last game, he was winning, so you got to come up with a different game plan next week hopefully because he out there now, so, hopefully keep playing the way he playing at a high level this week."