Nov 26, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (59) intercepts a pass thrown by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (not pictured) and scores a touchdown during the second quarter of an NFL game on Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
ARLINGTON, Texas — The undefeated Carolina Panthers can put “defeated the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving” on their ever-growing resume.
Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly intercepted two passes in the second quarter, part of a stifling effort by the Carolina defense in a 33-14 victory over the Cowboys on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo completed 11 of 21 passes for 106 yards and three interceptions. And then, after Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis sacked him, Romo left the game favoring his left arm on the final play of the third quarter.
Romo missed seven weeks with a broken clavicle earlier this season and the team reported he reinjured the left clavicle.
Dallas (3-8) was 0-7 with Romo out of the lineup.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton turned in a stellar performance, connecting on 16 of 27 passes for 183 yards and rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Newton led the Panthers on a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to ice the game late in the third quarter. He did a lot of handing off on the drive but converted a key third-and-17 with a 24-yard completion to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and a third-and-10 with an 11-yard connection with Cotchery.
Newton capped the drive with his 4-yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the quarter, putting the Panthers ahead 30-6.
The Carolina defense set the tone and put the Panthers (11-0) in command by halftime.
Panthers safety Kurt Coleman intercepted Romo on the game’s third offensive play. Coleman eluded the Dallas offensive players in pursuit, crossing the field for a pick-six that gave Carolina a 7-0 lead with 14:15 remaining in the first quarter.
Neither offense punched through for a touchdown for the remainder of the first half, but Carolina didn’t need to in order to control the action.
Late in the second quarter, Kuechly stepped in front of a Romo pass and returned it 32 yards for a score.
Romo’s next throw didn’t go much better. This time, Kuechly jumped to haul in a pass over the middle intended for tight end Jason Witten. Kuechly returned his second interception to the Dallas 29 with 2:19 left in the second quarter.
However, Newton and the Carolina offense couldn’t cash in for a touchdown. Panthers kicker Graham Gano booted a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to put Carolina ahead 23-3.
Romo struggled in his second game back from injury as he completed just 8 of 17 passes for 82 yards and the three interceptions in the first half.
NOTES: Carolina snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cowboys. The Cowboys lead the all time series 9-4. … Carolina was playing the first Thanksgiving game in team history. … The Cowboys fell to 29-18-1 all time on Thanksgiving. … The Cowboys wore all white uniforms and the Panthers were dressed in solid blue for the Thanksgiving Day game, part of the Nike Color Rush movement.
