- The Carolina Panthers entered the 2006 season with the highest of expectations and promptly stumbled out of the starting gates. The team's outlook, at least in the minds of most preseason prognosticators, may not be as rosy this time around, but the Panthers are certainly in a better position heading into Week 2 compared to a year ago.
Carolina's first of a series of disappointments that characterized last year's 8-8 campaign was a lackluster showing in a season-opening 20-6 home loss to Atlanta. Determined not to fall into the same trap in 2007, the Panthers played with purpose and precision that resulted in Sunday's well-executed 27-13 victory on the road over the St. Louis Rams.
The Panthers were able to effectively handle one of the NFL's most diverse and potent offensive attacks, while also displaying balance on the other side of the ball that the team rarely achieved last season. Carolina outgained the Rams by a 387-238 margin in total yards, and held the football for more than 34 minutes.
Most importantly, John Fox's troops showed both determination and composure to battle back from a six-point second-half deficit in a hostile environment. With St. Louis holding a 13-7 lead early in the third quarter and driving into Carolina territory, the Panthers got a big play on defense to turn the tide.
Safety Chris Harris delivered a jarring hit on Rams' All-Pro running back Steven Jackson, inducing a fumble that was immediately pounced on by defensive end Julius Peppers. Two plays later, star receiver Steve Smith blew past the St. Louis secondary and quarterback Jake Delhomme hit his favorite target in stride for a 68-yard touchdown that would put the Panthers in front to stay.
'We finally got a one-on-one opportunity and I (knew Smith) was a go route,' said Delhomme of the play. 'I just wanted to get a good fake and throw it as far as I can. Obviously, he can do the rest.'
That was one of three touchdown passes on the day for Delhomme, who appears to be ready to atone for last year's inconsistent performance that led to Carolina's offseason acquisition of ex-Texans signal-caller David Carr. The gritty Cajun completed 18-of-27 throws for 201 yards without an interception.
The defense's accomplishments were equally as impressive, as the group limited the dangerous Jackson to just 58 rushing yards on 18 carries and forced him to lose a pair of fumbles.
GRINDING IT OUT
Carolina was far more successful in running the football, as the Panthers racked up 186 yards on the ground and averaged nearly five yards per attempt. That was the team's highest single-game rushing total since it amassed a franchise-record 242 in last November's 15-0 victory over the Rams in Charlotte.
DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams effectively split touches in the backfield, with Foster compiling 94 yards on 17 carries and Williams totaling 62 on his 15 rushes. Foster also became Carolina's all-time leader in both rushing yards and rush attempts during the game, surpassing the marks previously held by Tim Biakabutuka. The 27-year-old now has 621 carries and 2,554 yards in five-plus seasons as a Panther.
STEPPING IT UP
Although Keary Colbert edged out Drew Carter in the preseason battle to line up opposite Smith as the Panthers' No. 2 receiver, Carter had the more productive output in Sunday's win. The speedy fourth-year wideout was on the receiving end of two of Delhomme's scoring tosses, including a nine-yard strike midway through the fourth quarter that extended Carolina's lead to 24-13. It was the first multi-touchdown outing of Carter's career.
Carter ended the day with three catches for 19 yards, while Colbert had only a nine-yard reception to his credit.
YOUNG BLOOD
The Panthers had a pair of rookies, outside linebacker Jon Beason and right guard Ryan Kalil, in the Week 1 starting lineup for the first time in Fox's six seasons as head coach. The duo are also only the fourth and fifth first- year players to start a season opener, joining right tackle Jordan Gross (2003), cornerback Chris Gamble (2004) and linebacker Thomas Davis (2005).
Former USC star wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, one of Carolina's two second- round selections in last April's draft (the other was his former Trojans' teammate Kalil), was inactive for Sunday's contest.
NEXT UP
The Houston Texans will make their first-ever visit to Bank of America Stadium this Sunday in the Panthers' 2007 home opener. The teams have faced one another only once previously, with Carolina scoring a 14-10 victory on the road on November 2, 2003.
Like the Panthers, Houston had a promising beginning to its season on Sunday, having come through with a 20-3 home win over Kansas City in Matt Schaub's official debut as the Texans' new quarterback. Schaub was acquired by Houston in an offseason trade after spending his first three years as the backup for Carolina's NFC South rivals, the Atlanta Falcons.
The Panthers will be shooting for their first 2-0 start since they won the first five games of the 2003 season, the same year Carolina represented the NFC in the Super Bowl.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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