Kemoeatu hurt the ankle last week against the Denver Broncos and practiced -- on a limited basis -- just once this past week.

Darwin Walker took Kemoeatu's place in the starting lineup.

Geoff Hangartner started for Keydrick Vincent at offensive guard.

Other Panthers inactives against the Giants were Matt Moore (third quarterback), receiver D.J. Hackett, cornerback C.J. Wilson, linebacker Adam Seward, offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, defensive end Hilee Taylor and receiver Kenneth Moore.

Taylor (calf) and Moore (hamstring) have been struggling with those injuries recently and didn't make the trip.

PEPPERS KEEPS PLAYING HARD: Panthers standout defensive end Julius Peppers sacked Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the fourth quarter, giving him a career-high 13 1/2 for the season.

FINALLY A CARRY: Giants fullback Madison Hedgecock had the first carry of his Giants career in the second quarter.

Hedgecock, who played at Thomasville's Ledford High and North Carolina, now has three carries for two yards in three NFL seasons.

Hedgecock, obviously, is in there for his blocking ability, and he's become one of the league's best. He's a Pro Bowl alternate.

He also caught a 13-yard pass in the third quarter that set up the Giants' second touchdown.

COLD FUN: It might have stopped snowing in the New York area earlier in the day, but that didn't stop fans from throwing snowballs -- sometimes at the Panthers bench, sometimes onto the field but mostly at each other -- during the game.

DEBUT: Rookie defensive tackle Nick Hayden, who has spent the season on the Panthers practice squad but signed after offensive guard Keydrick Vincent was put on injured reserve Saturday, saw the first action of his NFL career against the Giants.

Hayden was the Panthers' sixth-round draft pick out of Wisconsin.

STEWART TAKES A HIT: Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart left the game in the second quarter after being hit in the head during a 7-yard run.

He came back in the second half, though. He ended with 29 yards on nine carries.

SURE HANDS: Much has been made of DeAngelo Williams' numbers this season, 1,337 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. Here's another: zero fumbles.

NOD TO THE LEAGUE: One thing Giants Stadium has in common with the Panthers' Bank of America Stadium: Both have an NFL logo at midfield rather than a team emblem.

CLEAN PLAY: The first penalty of the game didn't come until 8:06 remained in the third quarter, a delay-of-game call against the Giants.