Carolina Panthers have stretched their NFL record to 11-0 with a 33-14 victory over Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Tony Romo was playing his second game after returning from a seven-week injury and threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for a touchdown. He then appeared to aggravate his injury at the end of the third quarter to cap off a tough night for Dallas.
Carolina opened the scoring inside the first minute as Kurt Coleman picked off Romo's pass and dodged a series of tackles to take it into the endzone.
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Dallas gave up possession immediately, as a tackle from Luke Kuechly pegged them back to their own 16-yard line, and an incomplete pass forced them into a punt.
Graham Gano extended Carolina's lead to 10 midway through the first quarter when he dissected the posts from 31 yards.
Romo was able to string together a number of passes as the Cowboys advanced towards the goal-line, but an incomplete pass when going for the touchdown forced them into the field goal which Dan Bailey converted to give Dallas their first three points.
Carolina were able to add 10 more points to their total in the second quarter. First, Gano scored a field goal from 43 yards.
It was another interception off a Romo pass which gave Carolina their second touchdown of the night. Kuechly plucked the ball out of the air and returned for 32 yards to score his first career touchdown.
Kuechly earned his second interception with the very next play, as Romo's pass was read perfectly by the linebacker who gave his team possession at the 28-yard line.
This time, Carolina could only score a field goal before half time to stretch their lead to 20 points.
The Cowboys enjoyed their best period of the match at the start of the second half, forcing Cam Newton into a sack on the one-yard line. At third and 40, Carolina had to punt it, but Dallas failed to take full advantage and took another field goal.
Carolina scored their third and final touchdown of the night after a six-minute drive ended in Newton diving over the line from one yard.
Matt Cassel came in for the injured Romo at the start of the fourth quarter and immediately gave up possession after three incomplete passes, and Gano added three more points to Carolina's total with their next drive.
Dallas scored their only touchdown of the night with four minutes remaining. A series of short passes from Cassel finished with a pass wide to Cole Beasley in the endzone.
Gano's field goal was blocked in the closing stages but that did not matter for Carolina, who picked up yet another win.
Jonathan McIntosh
