The Carolina Panthers showed grit http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/michael-palardy-jersey , resilience,and played sixty minuets of solid football as they squeaked by the Dallas Cowboys 16-8 in their home opener.Carolina’s offense overcame a foot injury to TE Greg Olsen and carried a 10-0 lead into halftime.The Panthers’ defense, however, were the real stars of the game- holding Dallas’ offense to zero plays into their territory in the first half. Here are five winners and three losers from week one.WinnersDefense:This unit dominated the Cowboys for the majority of the game. Luke Kuechly and the rest of the front seven held Dallas’ offense to a paltry 232 total yards.The Panthers defense contained Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, holding him to 69 yards on the day.Kuechly lead the way for this unit with 12 tackles. Cam Newton: For all of the criticism that Newton receives regarding his accuracy, he completed 17 of his 26 passes for 65 percent on the day.Newton was a bit on the conservative side with his arm today, taking few risks downfield.He was efficient and his throws were enough to put the offense into positions to capitalize. While Newton’s arm was solid, his legs made the difference. He lead the team in rushing with 58 yards and a touchdown.Shaq Thompson and Kawann Short:These two came up huge today on defense. Kuechly may have steadied the defense with his tackles and roaming the middle, but it was Thompson and Short that brought the heat and pressured Cowboys Quarterback Dak Prescott all game long.The two combined sliced through the Cowboys’ O-line and combined for three sacks. Christian McCaffrey: The second year running back shook off the fumble on the Panthers’ opening drive and found a steady rhythm the rest of the way. Granted, McCaffrey could have done more today but he’d done enough to contribute to the win, recording 95 total yards from scrimmage.Damiere Byrd: He was dynamic as a returner during the game. He scorched the Cowboys’ special teams unit on three returns for 47 yards, including a 30 yard return deep into Dallas territory late in the third quarter. LosersOffense:Carolina’s offense is here NOT because of their performance. They are here because they have lost two key components of the unit during this game. All Pro Tight End Greg Olsen left the game in the second quarter with a foot injury and did not return.The O-line was hit once again when Tackle Daryl Williams was carted off with an injury.Granted, they won the battle of scrimmage and attrition Authentic Christian McCaffrey Jersey , but at what cost?Coaches: Instead of going for a touchdown at the end of the first half, Norv Turner and the rest of the Panthers’ coordinators decided to be conservative and end the half with a Graham Gano field goal. The play almost came back to haunt the Panthers. Luckily for them,the defense rendered Dallas ineffective. Amini Silatolu:Silatolu is responsible for a bad snap from J.J. Jansen that prevented Gano from attempting an extra point that would have given the Panthers a 17-0 lead after the Alex Armah touchdown in the 3rd quarter. At first it appeared that Jansen snapped the ball way too high, but on replay it was clear that Silatolu moved his leg too soon and got in the way of the snap, causing it to sail high and wide. The result was a blown play and a two possession game when it should have been more.Panthers fans, who are your winners and losers for week one? Let us know in the comments below. Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers didn't wait until the fourth quarter to turn it up a notch on offense.The result was an impressive win against the league's top-ranked defense.Newton completed 21 of 29 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 52 yards and another score as the Panthers soundly defeated the Baltimore Ravens 36-21 on Sunday for their ninth straight win at home.Christian McCaffrey had two touchdowns and the Panthers continued to get electrifying performances from different players. This time, it was rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore, who turned in his best game as a pro with 129 yards from scrimmage."We present a lot of issues for defenses and that is what this offense was kind of built for," Newton said. "We have dynamic players all around the field."Unlike last Sunday when they needed three fourth quarter touchdowns to erase a 17-0 deficit and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles 21-17, the Panthers took it to the Ravens early and often.After spotting the Ravens a 7-0 lead on the game's first possession, the Panthers (5-2) scored on four straight drives in the final 16 minutes of the first half to break the game open and take a 24-7 halftime lead.Newton threw an 11-yard TD pass to Greg Olsen , McCaffrey ran for a 11-yard score and leaped into the air to corral a 6-yard TD pass that ricocheted off the hands of safety Eric Weddle and into his arms in the end zone. And when Baltimore (4-4) climbed to within 13 late in the third quarter, Newton was there to calmly drive the Panthers 85 yards in nine plays http://www.carolinapanthersteamonline.com/mario-addison-jersey , racing in untouched from 12 yards out on a naked bootleg to put the game away early.The Panthers rolled up 386 yards against a Ravens defense that had come in allowing a league-low 280.6 yards and 14.4 points per game.Baltimore seemed a step behind all day long, unable to figure out the Panthers multiple misdirection plays."They present a lot of misdirection and formations, different plays and was tough to get in a rhythm with them and Cam played an outstanding game," Ravens safety Eric Weddle said.When asked why Carolina's misdirection offense was so effective, Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith held up one hand and said, "Look at my hand. Now if I smack you with this one (my other hand), you won't see it coming. That's how it works."PANTHERS DEFENSECarolina showed it can still play a little 'D' as well, forcing three turnovers.The momentum-turning play came in the first quarter when defensive tackle Kyle Love crashed through the line and delivered a vicious hit on Ravens running back Alex Collins, jarring the ball loose. Defensive tackle Vernon Butler came up with the loose ball at the Ravens 12 after Luke Kuechly unsuccessfully tried to scoop and score. Three plays later, Newton found Olsen on a slant route giving Carolina a 14-7 lead it would never relinquish."Sometimes you're unblocked and you have to make a play," Love said.FLACCO: GOT BUTTS KICKEDBaltimore's Joe Flacco finished 22 of 39 for 192 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and said the Panthers were more physical and simply played better."We got our butts kicked today," Flacco said.The loss was the second straight for the Ravens."There is obviously a bigger threat to let this stuff affect you mentally and how we are jelling together Authentic Taylor Moton Jersey , so we have to combat that by being ourselves and being as tough as we can," Flacco said.GETTING HIS KICKSPanthers kicker Graham Gano extended his streak to 39 consecutive field goals made at home — and 28 straight overall — after connecting from 54, 44 and 30 yards.GAMBLING HARBAUGHHow many coaches have the guts to make this call? Leading 7-0 in the first quarter at Carolina, Ravens coach John Harbaugh went for a fake punt from his own 10-yard line on a fourth-and-1 — and Baltimore appeared to pick it up easily with Anthony Levine plowing ahead for an 8-yard gain. However, the Ravens were called for an illegal shift on the play, wiping out the first down, and they wound up punting.Harbaugh also went for a first down on fourth-and-1 from his own 34 and got it on a Flacco sneak.STEALING THREEThe Panthers used their own brand of trickery to steal three points just before halftime.Facing a fourth-and-7 at the Baltimore 44, coach Ron Rivera sent in backup QB Taylor Heinicke to throw an apparent Hail Mary with Newton's shoulder still sore from last week's game. But after the Ravens defense backed off, Heinicke saw Olsen alone lined up to the left side and he hauled in a 13-yard pass and ducked out of bounds with 2 seconds left. Gano came on to boot a 54-yard field goal to give Carolina momentum heading into the second half.NATIONAL ANTHEMPanthers safety Eric Reid continued to protest against social and racial injustice by kneeling before the national anthem. Also, several fans took a knee during the national anthem outside of the stadium in support of Reid's cause.INJURIESRavens starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley was helped off the field in the third quarter with a knee injury, but did return. The Panthers reported no injuries.UP NEXTRavens: Host Pittsburgh next Sunday.Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.