Panthers-Giants Postgame Notes

The Series: With the 41-9 victory, the Panthers ended a two-game losing streak against the Giants and lead the all-time series 4-2. Carolina finished the year with a 2-2 mark against NFC East opponents and has an all-time 8-23 regular-season record versus NFC East teams.

Inactives: The following eight players were inactive for the Panthers: quarterback Hunter Cantwell (third quarterback), wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, defensive tackle Derek Landri, tackle Rob Petitti, running back Tyrell Sutton, defensive end Hilee Taylor, running back DeAngelo Williams, and cornerback C.J. Wilson.

For Starters: The Panthers did not have any changes to their starting unit on defense. It marked the time this season Carolina fielded the same defensive starters after using 14 different starting lineups in the first 14 games with 20 players making starts. This same group of defenders also opened versus Tampa Bay (12/6/09) in a base defense. Only four players - linebacker Jon Beason, cornerback Chris Gamble, defensive tackle Damione Lewis, and cornerback Richard Marshall - have started every game on defense in 2009.

Offensively, Matt Moore started his fourth consecutive game at quarterback for Jake Delhomme, who was placed on injured reserve (12/24/09) with a broken finger on his right hand. Running back Jonathan Stewart made his second start of the season in place of DeAngelo Williams, who was inactive because of a sprained ankle sustained versus Minnesota (12/20/09). Dante Rosario started for the seventh time this year as Carolina began in a two-tight end set.

Stewart Rushes Into Record Book: Running back Jonathan Stewart set a team record with 206 yards and one touchdown on 28 attempts, breaking the previous mark of 186 yards by DeAngelo Williams versus Tampa Bay (12/8/08). He scored on a 29-yard scamper in the second quarter. Stewart established single-game highs for yards and carries, surpassing his previous bests of 130 yards versus Detroit (11/16/08) and 26 attempts versus Tampa Bay (12/6/09). He also produced a career-long 52-yard run in the fourth quarter, bettering his previous long of 45 yards versus Atlanta (11/15/09).

Stewart's 206 rushing yards represented the most against the Giants in more than 21 years since Terry Miller with 206 for Buffalo (11/26/78). He has produced more than 100 yards rushing four times this season, including in two consecutive games and three of the last four. Stewart also compiled 100-yard rushing efforts with 110 yards and one touchdown on 17 carries at Tampa Bay (10/18/09), 120 yards and one touchdown on 26 attempts versus Tampa Bay (12/6/09) and 109 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries versus Minnesota (12/20/09).

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Stewart Millennium Man: Stewart eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the season with 1,008. He cracked the 1,000-yard plateau on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter. It marked the fifth time in team history that a player has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in a season - previously achieved by Williams with 1,117 in 2009 and a team-record 1,515 in 2008, Stephen Davis with 1,444 in 2003 and Anthony Johnson with 1,120 in 1996.

Stewart has established career highs this season with 1,008 yards and 205 carries, surpassing his totals of 836 yards and 184 attempts as a rookie in 2008. He leads the Panthers with nine rushing touchdowns this year and ranks second on the team in rushing yards behind Williams, who has 1,117 yards.

Double Trouble: The Panthers became just the sixth team since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger to have two players with 1,000 rushing yards in the same season - Williams with 1,117 and Stewart with 1,008.

Offensive Line Paves The Way: Behind an offensive line featuring Travelle Wharton at left tackle, Mackenzy Bernadeau at left guard, Ryan Kalil at center, Keydrick Vincent at right guard and Geoff Schwartz at right tackle, the Panthers' third-ranked rushing attack amassed 247 yards and two touchdowns on 46 attempts for an average of 5.4 yards per carry and gained 13 rushing first downs.

Carolina's 247 yards rushing represented the fifth-most in team history. The Panthers have compiled three of the five highest single-game rushing totals in team history this season with 270 yards at Arizona (11/1/09), 267 yards at Tampa Bay (10/18/09) and 247 yards at the New York Giants (12/27/09). The team record for the most rushing yards in a game is 299 versus Tampa Bay (12/8/08).

The Panthers' 46 rushing attempts marked the fourth most in team history. Carolina has recorded two of the four highest single-game totals for carries in team history this season with 48 at Tampa Bay (10/18/09) and 46 at the New York Giants (12/27/09). The team record for the most rushing attempts in a game is 52 at Atlanta (12/24/06).

Carolina's 13 rushing first downs equaled the third most in team history, previously accomplished four times - most recently at St. Louis (9/9/07). The team record for the most rushing first downs in a game is 16 at Tampa Bay (10/18/09).

The Panthers are averaging 154.7 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per rush this season, while gaining 2,320 rushing yards, scoring 17 rushing touchdowns and gaining 118 rushing first downs. The rushing yards and rushing touchdowns rank as the second most in team history behind the team records of 2,437 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2008, and the rushing first downs match the most in team history - previously accomplished in 2008.

Offensive Line Provides Protection: The offensive line allowed just one sack in 21 pass plays for a 4.8 sacks per-pass-play percentage against a New York pass rush that entered the game with a 7.0 sacks per-pass-play percentage and had registered 31 sacks.

The Hoov: Fullback Brad Hoover, who had only rushed four times for five yards this season entering the game, carried nine times for 37 yards and one touchdown. It marked the most attempts and yards he has had since having 24 carries and 99 yards versus San Diego (10/24/04). Hoover scored on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter, his first rushing touchdown since a five-yarder versus Tampa Bay (11/13/06). He plowed his way to an 18-yard run in the third quarter, the second-longest run of his career behind a 35-yard rumble versus Green Bay (11/27/00). Hoover ranks in the top 10 in team history in games played, games started rushing yards and receptions.

Total Offense: Carolina accumulated 416 yards of total offense with 247 yards rushing and 169 yards passing against a New York defense that entered the game ranked seventh in the NFL, yielding 306.8 yards per game. It represented the Panthers' third-highest output this season behind the 440 yards gained at Atlanta (9/20/09) and 425 yards totaled versus Buffalo (10/25/09).

Extra Points: The Panthers tallied a season-high 41 points against the Giants, scoring on their first four possessions of the game and seven of their first eight. Carolina's 41 points represented the most the team has totaled since posting 44 at Atlanta (1/1/06). The 32-point margin of victory matched the third-most lopsided win in team history, previously accomplished twice - most recently versus New Orleans (1/2/99). The team record for the largest margin of victory is 34 points versus Kansas City (10/5/08).

Carolina exploded for 21 points in the second quarter to tie the team record for the second-most points ever generated in the quarter, previously accomplished on four occasions - most recently at Arizona (11/1/09). The 21 points also equaled the second most ever in one quarter, previously accomplished nine times. The team record for the most points scored in one quarter is 24 in the second quarter at San Francisco (10/17/99).

In The Zone: The Panthers scored on all four of their trips inside the Giants' 20-yard line, producing two touchdowns and two field goals. Carolina has been successful on 33-of-39 red zone opportunities, scoring 20 touchdowns and 13 field goals for an 84.6 percent conversion rate and 51.3 percent touchdown conversion rate this season.

Third Down Yields First Down: The Panthers converted 10-of-15 third downs for a season-high 66.7 percent conversion rate en route to gaining a season-high 25 first downs - 13 rushing, 10 passing and two by penalty. The 13 rushing first downs tied the team record for the third-most in one game, previously accomplished four times - most recently at St. Louis (9/9/07). The team record for the most rushing first downs in a game is 16 at Tampa Bay (10/18/09).

Moore The Merrier: Quarterback Matt Moore completed 15-of-20 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions to produce a 139.8 quarterback rating. He threw touchdown passes of 22 yards to wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad in the second quarter, two yards to tight end Jeff King in the fourth quarter and 27 yards to wide receiver Steve Smith in the fourth quarter.

Moore established career highs with a 75.0 completion percentage and 139.8 quarterback rating, bettering his previous bests of a 70.4 completion percentage versus Seattle (12/16/07) and 123.2 quarterback rating versus Minnesota (12/20/09). He tied his career high of three touchdowns, previously achieved versus Minnesota (12/20/09).

In six games with four starts this season, Moore has completed 71-of-115 passes for 891 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions to produce a 98.9 quarterback rating.

In seven career starts, including the last three games of the 2007 season and Weeks 13-16 in 2009, Moore has posted a 5-2 record as a starter. Six of his seven starts have come against teams with winning records with the exception being versus Tampa Bay (12/6/09). In those seven starts, Moore has completed 114-of-182 passes for 1,392 yards and 10 touchdowns with three interceptions to generate a 97.6 quarterback rating.

Smitty Stats: Wide receiver Steve Smith paced the Panthers with five receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown. He scored on a 27-yard catch in the third quarter but broke his left arm on the play after being hit by Giants safety Michael Johnson. Smith leads the Panthers with 65 receptions for 982 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He ranks first in team history with 58 total touchdowns [50 pass, 6 return, 2 run] and 32 games with 100 or more receiving yards; tied for first with 50 receiving touchdowns; and stands second with 574 catches, 8,330 receiving yards, and 350 points scored.

Moose Tracks: Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad scored his first touchdown of the season on a 22-yard reception in the second quarter and finished the game with three catches for 56 yards. He is second on the team with 46 receptions for 496 yards and one touchdown. Muhammad ranks first in franchise history with 689 catches and 9,170 receiving yards; tied for first with 50 receiving touchdowns; stands second with 50 total touchdowns and 27 games with 100 or more receiving yards; and is third with 304 points scored.

Ball Security: The Panthers did not commit any turnovers for the third consecutive game and for the fifth time this season. This represents the most consecutive games in team history without a turnover. Carolina has previously not turned the ball over in two consecutive games on six occasions - most recently at the New York Giants (12/21/08) and at New Orleans (12/28/08). The Panthers' five games without a turnover equals the team record for the most games without a turnover, previously accomplished in 2008. Carolina has committed only 10 turnovers in the last nine games after committing 21 in the first six.

Takeaway/Giveaway: Carolina forced four turnovers on interceptions by cornerback Richard Marshall and safety Chris Harris and fumble recoveries by linebacker James Anderson and defensive end Julius Peppers. The Panthers did not commit any turnovers to finish with a plus-four turnover ratio. The four takeaways resulted in 10 points for Carolina. The Panthers have a plus-three turnover ratio this season.

The Panthers, who began the game tied for fourth in the NFL in takeaways, have forced 34 turnovers on 21 interceptions and 13 fumbles this year. In the last nine games, Carolina has collected 27 takeaways and has a plus-17 turnover ratio after generating just seven takeaways and having a negative-14 turnover ratio in the first six games.

Marshall picked off Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the second quarter when he stepped in front of a pass intended for Giants wide receiver Steve Smith. Marshall is tied with cornerback Chris Gamble for the team lead with a career-high four interceptions this season.

Harris intercepted Manning in the fourth quarter on the Giants' final possession to equal his career high of three interceptions, previously achieved as a rookie with Chicago in 2005. It marked the fifth consecutive game that he created a turnover. Harris forced a fumble at the New York Jets (11/29/09), recorded an interception versus Tampa Bay (12/6/09), caused a fumble at New England (12/13/09), and recovered a fumble and picked off a pass versus Minnesota (12/20/09).

Peppers recovered a fumble by Manning on the last play of the first half. He is tied with Kevin Greene for second in team history for the most opponent fumble recoveries with seven and ranks first with 29 forced fumbles. Mike Minter holds the team record for the most opponent fumble recoveries with nine.

Stingy Defense: The Panthers held the Giants, who began the game as the NFL's sixth-highest scoring team with an average of 27.6 points, to nine points - keeping them scoreless in the first half. Carolina yielded 317 total net yards - including just 122 in the first half - to New York, who was ranked fifth in the NFL in total offense with an average of 382.7 yards. The Panthers limited the Giants to 60 rushing yards, their second fewest this season. New York - who was rated seventh in the NFL in third-down efficiency - converted only five-of-13 third-down opportunities.

Sack Party: The Panthers collected four sacks against the Giants and have gathered 31 this season with defensive linemen accounting for 24.5 of them. Linebacker Jon Beason and defensive ends Julius Peppers, Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton each notched one quarterback takedown.

Peppers leads the team with 10.5 sacks this season and ranks as the Panthers' all-time leader with 81.0. This represents the sixth time in eight seasons that he has posted 10 or more sacks. Brayton has established a career high with five sacks, surpassing his previous best of 4.5 in 2008.

Kasay Kicks Up The Charts: Kicker John Kasay scored 11 points against New York to move into ninth place all time in NFL history for points scored with 1,720, bettering the 1,711 totaled by Nick Lowery from 1978-1996. He connected on both of his field attempts, converting from 38 and 28 yards, and all five of his extra-point chances.

Kasay has been successful on 19-of-24 field-goal attempts and 29-of-30 extra-point opportunities for a team-leading 86 points this season. In addition to ranking ninth in NFL history in scoring, he stands seventh with 405 made field goals. He is the Panthers' all-time leader with 1,379 points scored and 325 field goals.

Baker's Treat: Punter Jason Baker generated a gross average of 36.0 yards and net average of 36.0 yards with one inside the 20, no touchbacks and long of 37 yards on two punts. His gross average decreased to 44.3 yards and his net average remained at 36.1 yards with 21 punts inside the 20, four touchbacks, one block and long of 61 yards this season.

Lloyd's of London: Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd placed three of his eight kickoffs in the end zone with two touchbacks, helping limit New York to an average kickoff drive start of the 24-yard line. He has reached the end zone on 41-of-67 kickoffs with 21 touchbacks this season.