Week 10: Panthers 27, Titans 10

The details

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton started Sunday’s game with a flurry and ended it with a flourish.

Newton entered play with a 53.7 completion percentage that ranked ahead of only former Houston quarterback Ryan Mallett, who was last seen looking for an alarm clock and a new team after the Texans cut him.

So naturally, Newton completed his first 11 passes – one short of Steve Beuerlein’s franchise-record streak to start a game – and finished with his second-highest completion percentage (80.8) in the Panthers’ 27-10 victory over Tennessee.

Newton completed 21 of 26 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a score. It was his 2-yard touchdown run – more of a one-armed stretch across the goal line – that completed the scoring and sent a couple of the Titans linebackers into a snit.

Newton punctuated his touchdown not with his trademark Superman celebration but with a rendition of an Atlanta-born dance called dabbin’ that he extended a little too long for the Titans’ liking.

Avery Williamson first approached Newton to express his displeasure, followed by Wesley Woodyard.

And how did Newton respond? With two final little dance moves as he backed away from Williamson and Woodyard.

“I heard somebody say we’re not going to allow you to do that,” Newton said. “But I’m a firm believer if you don’t like me to do it, then don’t let me in” the end zone.

Put another way: A little dab will do ya.

Joseph Person

They said it

“They don’t like the arrogance he brings. They don’t like the showmanship. Well shoot, stop it. Do something about it.” – Carolina cornerback Josh Norman

“Well, we take it one game at a time. But it’s the elephant in the room. We can’t deny that. But, again, it’s really about the next game. It really, honestly is. All the record tells you is that you’re in position for the next thing, and that would be the playoffs.” – Panthers coach Ron Rivera

The weirdness

“Tennessee Mom” blew up the Internet.

Titans fan Rosemary Plorin of Nashville attended the game with her fourth-grade daughter, and a day later sent The Observer a note she wrote to Newton.

In it she said her daughter was offended by his dancing. “The chest puffs. The pelvic thrusts. The arrogant struts and the ‘in your face’ taunting of both the Titans’ players and fans. We saw it all.” she wrote.

The letter was viewed hundreds of thousands of times on the Observer’s website and started a debate about race and football.

It was extraordinary.

Hot takes

Jonathan Jones: The Carolina Panthers’ 27-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans would seem to indicate a big defensive game for Carolina.

They held Marcus Mariota, a two-time AFC Player of the Week already in his young career, to 185 passing yards and 10 points, tying his season-low.

But there was only one sack. There was an interception that didn’t lead to any Panthers points.

And Luke Kuechly led the team with only eight tackles –the fewest he has had in full game this season.

“This game wasn’t flashy,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “When you go back and watch the tape, especially the second half, I think people are going to find that people were just assignment sound. You did your job and that’s how it’s supposed to work. Not every time is it going to be five or 10 sacks and picks and stuff like that.”

There were no top-10 plays. No one will be NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

“It was just one of those games where you do your job and get the win,” Allen said.

Tom Sorensen: The days when Carolina was an unheralded, unappreciated underdog have ceased. After eluding the Tennessee trap and beating the Titans 27-10, Carolina is a brilliant 9-0.

Let’s talk about 9-0.

The Panthers have had five seasons in which they won 11 or more games, and their best start in any of them was 7-2.

Since the advent of the Super Bowl in 1967, 19 teams have started 9-0. All 19 made the playoffs, 11 made the Super Bowl and seven won the Super Bowl.

The Panthers made the Super Bowl once, in 2003, and they have never won it.

“So let’s try to keep this going,” says Norman. “We can be special. We can be mighty, mighty special. We have to understand that we have a chance to make history.”

Jonathan Jones: Quarterbacks across the NFL celebrate touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers’ Discount Double Check move is so loved it’s become a commercial. Tom Brady cusses and carries on like he’s in a high school cafeteria. Brett Favre, who once did the since-banned throat-slash gesture in a game, would rip off his helmet and run around aimlessly after scores.

So why is Newton any different? He celebrated a touchdown – in a league that features the greatest athletes in the world – by doing a popular dance his little brother asked him to do.

Placed in a vacuum, that story should be one we celebrate.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Week 10: Panthers 27, Titans 10."