By Scott Garbarini Nov 29, 2006, 0:05 GMT
- After putting together their most complete performance of what's been a maddeningly inconsistent season just one week ago, the Carolina Panthers appeared poised to claim their expected place atop the NFC South. That notion drastically changed in the course of one single play this past Sunday.
Carolina held a three-point lead over the offensively-challenged Washington Redskins with under five minutes to play, and looked to be in good position to claim a third consecutive victory. But in a 3rd-and-8 situation, Redskins rookie quarterback Jason Campbell found Chris Cooley across the middle and the tight end broke free of two Panther defenders before sprinting down the sideline for an unlikely 66-yard touchdown.
The score proved to be the difference in a 17-13 loss that sent the Carolina locker room in a state of shock and left followers of the team angrily demanding a call for change.
Except for the game-deciding play, in which Cooley shook off tackle attempts from cornerback Chris Gamble and normally-reliable safety Mike Minter, the Panthers defense had Washington bottled up virtually the entire afternoon. The Redskins finished with just 253 total yards, and Campbell had a mere 52 through the air prior to the touchdown strike.
'One of our goals is to not give up explosive plays, and that's what we did,' said Carolina linebacker Chris Draft. 'You can scratch and claw and hold them to not a lot of yards, and when you give up a big play it kind of destroys all of that.'
While the defense, which dominated St. Louis in last week's 15-0 victory, hasn't been quite as formidable as last season's group which allowed the third-fewest yards in the league, the unit can't be held accountable for the Panthers' disappointing 6-5 record. That mediocre mark can be primarily blamed on an offense that has been plagued by inefficiency all year long.
Facing the NFL's 30th-ranked defense, Carolina mustered a lackluster output of 264 total yards and failed to establish consistency in either the running game or the pass.
Most of the blame for the woes of the Panther offense, which stands 27th overall in scoring (17.2 ppg) and next-to-last with a dismal 29.5 percent conversion rate on third-down, seems to have fallen on quarterback Jake Delhomme, who up until this year had been one of the franchise's most popular players.
The gritty Cajun didn't help his case on Sunday, as he threw for just 168 yards and was intercepted twice, the last of which came when he tried to thread a deep ball to Steve Smith into double coverage with about a minute to play.
Delhomme's gambling demeanor, history of rising to the occasion in big games and deep Southern roots used to draw comparisons to Brett Favre. The only problem is, he's never had Favre's arm or athletic ability.
It's fair to say, as the team's beat writers continually pointed out following Sunday's loss, that Delhomme hasn't had a good year. But with Chris Weinke as your other option, don't expect head coach John Fox to making any drastic deviations at the position anytime soon.
LEADER OF THE PACK
Delhomme did become Carolina's all-time leader in both pass completions and passing yards during the game, surpassing Steve Beurlein's team records in both categories. The nine-year veteran now has 1,056 completions and 12,855 career yards as a Panther. Delhomme also threw his 84th touchdown pass in a Carolina uniform when he connected with Smith on an eight-yard score early in the fourth quarter, and needs just two more to tie Beurlein's franchise mark for that category.
INJURY REPORT
DeShaun Foster, the Panthers' leading rusher, was inactive for the Washington game because of a hyperextended left elbow the fragile back suffered in last week's win over the Rams. Rookie DeAngelo Williams started in Foster's place but managed a pedestrian 63 yards on 17 attempts.
Carolina also played without cornerback Ken Lucas, who missed his second consecutive outing with a strained hamstring. He was in uniform for the game, however, and should be able to return to action for this Monday's contest at Philadelphia.
HARTWIG DONE FOR YEAR
Center Justin Hartwig, one of Carolina's major free-agent additions during the offseason, was finally placed on injured reserve and will undergo surgery for a groin problem which has rendered him inactive for the majority of the year.
Hartwig initially suffered the injury in the Panthers' season-opener against Carolina and missed the next six games. He returned for the team's loss to Dallas on October 29, then aggravated the ailment while lifting weights during the Panthers' ensuing bye week.
'We were hoping we could (get Hartwig healthy) without surgery, and I think the further we went the more it seemed obvious that we weren't,' said Fox. 'Now, we've just got to get him healthy and get him ready for next year.'
Hartwig's absence and left tackle Travelle Wharton's season-ending knee injury incurred in Week 1 have had a profound negative impact on Carolina's offensive line, which has been plagued by spotty play throughout the season.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Carolina will have its second consecutive road test against an NFC East opponent when the Panthers travel to Philadelphia for a Monday night matchup with the shorthanded Eagles, who will play their second straight game without injured quarterback Donovan McNabb.
The Panthers have visited the City of Brotherly Love three times before and have only won one of those encounters. That lone victory was the biggest in franchise history, however. Carolina's defense stymied McNabb and the Eagles as the Cats advanced to Super Bowl XXXVIII with a 14-3 triumph in the 2003 NFC Championship Game.
Carolina's most recent visit to Lincoln Financial Field wasn't as successful, as Philadelphia rolled to a 30-8 win on October 17, 2004.
© 2006 The Sports Network
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