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November 16, 2008
Panthers narrowly defeat Lions
By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
There was nothing easy about beating the winless Detroit Lions Sunday for the Carolina Panthers.
Even at home at Bank of America Stadium, where they’re undefeated this season, the Panthers struggled to beat a much inferior opponent.
Last week, it was Oakland on the road.
Sunday, it was Detroit, which fell to 0-10 this season and 1-17 dating back to the second half of last year with its 31-22 loss to Carolina.
But the bottom line is the Panthers are 8-2 heading into a difficult stretch of opponents in their final six games, starting next week at Atlanta (6-4).
Carolina remains one game ahead of Tampa Bay (7-3) in the NFC South.
The outcome against Detroit was very much in doubt when the Lions got the ball with 4:58 remaining and Carolina clinging to a 24-22 lead.
The Lions had narrowly missed tying the score on their previous possession when quarterback Daunte Culpepper was stopped just short of the goal line on a two-point conversion run following his touchdown.
Television replays later showed Panthers linebacker Jon Beason probably pulled on Culpepper’s facemask in a manner that should have been a penalty, but wasn’t called by the officials.
So after barely failing to tie the score, the Lions had the ball back and a chance to drive for a possible go-ahead field goal.
But then, for one of the few times of the game, the Lions’ offense looked the part of its NFL ranking (31st).
Culpepper rolled right and threw short downfield, right into the hands of Carolina rookie safety Charles Godfrey, who returned the interception to the 4.
Running back DeAngelo Williams scored from there to give the Panthers the cushion they need to win.
It was Williams’ second TD of the game. He and rookie running back Jonathan Stewart were Carolina’s offensive stars.
Both rushed for more than 100 yards and the Panthers, marking the first time in team history that two backs have done that in the same game. Stewart had 130 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Stewart ran for 120 yards on 14 attempts.
Quarterback Jake Delhomme didn’t throw any interceptions – he had four the previous week at Oakland – but he wasn’t sharp either. He completed 10 of 19 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. It marked his second consecutive game with fewer than 100 yards passing.
The Panthers started slowly, failing to pick up a first down in the first period and falling behind the Lions 10-0 by early in the second quarter.
Then Carolina’s running game got going. Williams and Stewart scored second-period touchdowns and tight end Jeff King caught a 15-yard TD pass from Delhomme to give the Panthers a 21-16 halftime lead.
Defensive end Julius Peppers had his second consecutive big game, with two sacks and a forced fumble. He raised his season sack total to nine.
Posted by Observer Sports on November 16, 2008 at 04:17 PM | Permalink
Comments
"Both rushed for more than 100 yards and the Panthers, marking the first time in team history that two backs have done that in the same game. Stewart had 130 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Stewart ran for 120 yards on 14 attempts."
Do you bozos even read what you write before posting? Charles-at least YOU knew that the Bucs were 1 game behind us, unlike your idiot buddy, Scott. Give me the Gaston Gazette and their one man show anytime. You kind of consistantly suck for a big city paper.
Posted by: carpants | Nov 16, 2008 5:08:48 PM
This sounds more like an article written by someone who wished they had lost. By looking at the stats, it looks like the game plan was for the run, not the pass game, thus making Jakes stats not stand out. Playing a team that is winless can be harder than plying a undefated one. They are hunry for a win and are going to give it all that they can. The Panthers didnt do as bad as you make it sound. They won
Posted by: TEDDYN | Nov 16, 2008 5:20:19 PM
They won narrowly by 9 points...
Good one, Charles...
Posted by: Common Sense | Nov 16, 2008 7:46:36 PM
They were a 2-point conversion from being tied with six-minutes left, chief. It was a narrow escape with a victory.
Posted by: Michael Procton | Nov 16, 2008 7:49:06 PM
Scoot (couldn't be more) Fowler wrote:
"I agree that the Panthers could have easily been called for a facemask penalty on Detroit’s unsuccessful two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. But did Fox-TV announcer Tony Boselli need to bring it up approximately 200 times after that?"
He finally makes a good point with this comment/question. You have to wonder if Tony Botchelli is still upset that the Panthers didn't draft him. Every game I've seen with this guy announcing has been wretched. I have to turn the volume off just to be able to enjoy the game. I wish that neandertal would go announce Jaguar games instead.
Unfortunately, Fowler went straight back to his usual self with writing, "DeAngelo Williams not only is going to go over 1,000 rushing yards this season, but he may go over 1,200. He’s so much better than DeShaun Foster that I still can’t believe the Panthers left him buried on the bench so much during his first two seasons." While he's at it, why doesn't he point out all the differences he had with Seifert and Capers. I mean the team is 8-2 for crying out loud. GET OFF OF FOX'S C*CK ALREADY!!! Seriously, Mr. green pants/pink shirt wearing Fowler, "do you find it difficult to hide the fact that you are gay?"
Speaking of not living in the past...
For the Panthers to beat the Falcons, they have to find a way to stop Warrick Dunn. That guy has made the Panthers look bad no matter which team he has played for, and hasn't seemed to have lost his touch doing it. Unlike these past two weeks, the Panthers have got to make stuffing the run a priority.
Hopefully Walker will be back next week and the Panthers can give the Falcons a heavy dose of non-stop pressure and blitzing packages. Dare Ryan to beat you with people in his face and hope that your blitzers can catch Dunn in the backfield. That strategy is risky, but it could pay off in a big way by killing two birds with one stone.
BTW, to address that question Fowler posed, did genius ever consider that Williams needed time to develop into the back he is now? It's not like DeAngelo (not to take anything away from his accomplishments) came out blasting away at defenses at the BEGINNING of his first year as a starter. Even then, he needed a whole season to further develop. In fact, he has kept getting better as this season has progressed as well. In other words, Scoot(couldn't be)Fowler, ..."Duhh!!"
***To add to that, let's not overlook the fact that, at the time, Foster seemed to be perfectly capable (in terms of talent) to carry the starting role. Not to take away from his contributions to the team, but hindsight is 20/20, and anyone who is critical of the past can sound intelligent. But Fowler, you obviusly don't impress me with your pompous rants. (i.e. "I just got back into town and don't have a clue of what's going on but let me just start ripping into this team and Fox by saying how bad they will such again this year")... LOL! What an *ssh*le!
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 5:03:09 AM
Sorry about the long post, but I had some catching up to do. :)
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 5:03:41 AM
Perhaps some of your catching up should include knowing that Dunn now plays for Tampa Bay and Turner is the RB for the Falcons.
I'll be waiting for your juvenile, shallow and obscenity ridden response.
Posted by: jeff | Nov 17, 2008 7:48:02 AM
I was about to make the same point, Jeff. But then I figured, why bother? You've got it covered. And I too could do without the juvenile, shallow and obscenity-ridden response it would invoke. It's nice to see someone's thinking, though. Post more often, man.
--Neil
Posted by: NSpicer | Nov 17, 2008 10:36:24 AM
Jeff, your pathetic chicken sh*t name calling does not impress me. Next time you want to offer an opinion, keep in mind just how much of an *ssh*le you really are and don't be too surprised if you are called out on it.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 10:45:39 AM
Neil, your still offended that someone disagreed with you and wasn't swayed by your prententious hot air. Grow up groupie, before your mouth gets you in trouble.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 10:47:54 AM
BTW, where were you two qu**rbaits before the lions game. Now you are going to make comments that you know I am no longer within reach. Very telling.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 10:49:04 AM
Just to point out the obvious to you morons, had idiot number one just corrected me only, I would have jokingly thanked him for it. Instead, he had to get personal and offensive (like so many other pathetic camqueens that post things online), and so he got the response from me that he deserved. Niel, I'm not sure where you are coming off with post (pretty random and out of the blue), but you just showed your true colors. Thanks for clarifying what you are really like.
Posted by: Keeping It Real | Nov 17, 2008 11:16:50 AM
LMAO, Syrpis(I mean Keeping It Real) you are so predictable.
Posted by: jeff | Nov 17, 2008 3:23:27 PM
KIR, how can you be mad at someone for pointing out your mistake? I could have just as easily pointed out the 6 or so grammatical errors in your posts but it's just not worth my time to correct you. You are the idiot who keeps posting these rants of garbage you call posts. You went into two paragraphs about Dunn being on the Falcons and are mad someone called you out. Grow up you nerd. Your posts took up half of this blog and in the end they were just as useless as you are to this forum. Then you turn into a 5 year old using profanity and childidh remarks like "Grow up groupie, before your mouth gets you in trouble." What are you going to go find Neil (which you didn't spell correctly) and go beat him up? You need to grow up and start talking about something that actually makes sense for people to take you seriously which from the looks of it seems out of your reach. Keep off the blog loser.
Posted by: JV | Nov 17, 2008 3:56:26 PM
Procton, you are a blowhard. They didn't "narrowly escape". They never trailed after the second quarter and the lead was less than a touchdown for less than two minutes of game time. Just because everybody wanted them to win by 30 doesn't mean they squeaked this one out.
Posted by: Common Sense | Nov 18, 2008 4:44:08 PM
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