- 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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