HERO
Take your pick for the Panthers, who had Cam Newton throw three TD passes, DeAngelo Williams run for 120 yards and defensive end Greg Hardy account for three of their franchise-record tying seven sacks. Hardy gets the nod after adding a team-high eight tackles (three of them for lost yardage) and three other hits on Eli Manning to his huge sack total.
UNSUNG HERO
Panthers defensive tackle Star Lotulelei was credited with just two tackles and a sack, but don’t be fooled — the big rookie was a monster inside. Lotulelei has been outstanding in the first three games, so much so that Carolina might be headed for its second consecutive NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after linebacker Luke Kuechly nabbed that honor last year.
ZERO
The Giants as a whole were a total disaster, but offensive tackle Will Beatty gets the boobie prize with a performance that was comically bad. Not only did Greg Hardy beat him straight up for three sacks, but Beatty — signed to a big extension in the offseason — also cost the Giants a touchdown when his holding penalty wiped out David Wilson’s 17-yard first half scoring run.
KEY STAT
3-8: The Giants’ record (including two shutout losses) since improving to 6-2 with a victory at Dallas last October.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“There’s something missing right now. Guys need to look at themselves in the mirror, because if it isn’t ugly now, it can get uglier from here.”
— Giants defensive end Justin Tuck