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November 15, 2009
Panthers get big plays late to beat Falcons 28-19
By Charles Chandler
cchandler@charlotteobserver.com
Despite playing with an injury-hampered lineup, the Carolina Panthers rode two big plays and Atlanta mistakes to a 28-19 victory over the Falcons Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.
Leading by two points midway through the final period, the Panthers watched usually reliable kicker Jason Elam miss a 34-yard field goal attempt that could've given the Falcons the lead.
Then, punter Jason Baker make a saving tackle with 3:59 remaining at the Carolina 49 when Atlanta's Eric Weems looked ready to return a punt for a score.
Moments later, cornerback Richard Marshall picked off an overthrown deep pass by Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and returned it to the Carolina 49.
Three plays later, the Panthers faced an important third-and-4 from the Atlanta 45. Carolina needed at least a first down to keep from giving the Falcons the ball back.
The play call looked conservative, but turned out big: Jonathan Stewart took a handoff to the left side, burst into the secondary and rambled 45 yards for the game-clinching touchdown.
It was Stewart's second TD of the game.
Carolina raised its record to 4-5 and return to action in just four days to play Miami on Thursday night, with a chance yet again to even its record at .500.
The Falcons fell to 5-4, including 1-4 on the road.
Carolina's first two scores came on 4-yard touchdown passes from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith. That doubled the number of times they had connected for scores during the first eight games.
Delhomme had a turnover-less, efficient performance, completing 15-of-24 passes for 195 yards.
The Panthers suffered a big loss in the first half when left tackle Jordan Gross went down with an injured right ankle and had to be carted off the field. His status for the remainder of the season wasn't initially known.
Carolina already was playing without outside linebacker Thomas Davis, whose sended ended when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last week at New Orleans.
Also, defensive end Julius Peppers played mostly on passing downs against the Falcons due to an injured right hand.
Posted by Observer Sports on November 15, 2009 at 03:59 PM | Permalink
Comments
.500 would be good, but with 5 losses in the season it would seem the playoffs are still out of reach. But at least they beat "Matty Ice" and the hated Falcons!
Posted by: Panther Dan | Nov 15, 2009 4:11:28 PM
Delhomme played tons better than expected. Game ball goes to him. He didnt just manage the offense, he actually had say in play call and made some good passes early.
Posted by: turtleman_jr | Nov 15, 2009 4:18:59 PM
Notice not as many people comment on here when we win. HA! On top of that, Delhomme played very well.
That said, we're in trouble. We play Miami (not that they're all great) on a VERY short week with Smith and Gross injured, Davis out for the Season and Peppers with an injured hand?!
I'm nervous.
Posted by: Gamble20 | Nov 15, 2009 4:31:58 PM
MVP is Jason Baker for his touchdown saving tackle to stop Eric Weems. Baker is yet another player in a long line of people who are better defensive players than Julius Peppers. Can you believe the money Peppers is paid? Franchise tagging an underachiever like Peppers was a horrible, horrible mistake.
Posted by: Doug Edwards | Nov 15, 2009 4:48:13 PM
I always comment win or lose, and must say Jake played one hell of a game today...We are always here to rub it in his face when he throws the interceptions and fumbles, and rightly so should he be given just dues when he plays extremely well..I agree game ball Delhomme!!!
We have a banged up team, but they are still finding ways to get that "W"..
Way to go PANTHERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Nov 15, 2009 4:49:48 PM
Give it a rest. Peppers has been playing great most of the season. You can't blame him for an injury that's messing him up a little bit.
Posted by: Jerad | Nov 15, 2009 4:54:46 PM
Gross broke his ankle
Posted by: JB$ | Nov 15, 2009 4:57:08 PM
Jerad talking to these haters about Peppers, is like talking to a (90) mile long brick wall...
He played his butt off in 4 games, earning the NFL player of the week...yet come rain or shine, hurt or healthy hes suppose to have 90 tackles, 90 sacks and of course 90 pick six's...
I mean think about it, hes making millions and the ONLY player on the Defense? Isnt he???
Go Pep...Nothing but mad love for ya here!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Nov 15, 2009 5:00:44 PM
I actually have the game ball as my daughter is holding it right now since Richard Marshall gave it to her after he's interception! GO PANTHERS!
RICHARD MARSHALL IS #1!
Posted by: spaceytoyz | Nov 15, 2009 5:16:05 PM
delhomme played a good game though that deep pass to smith into double coverage hung in the air like a punt and should have been picked...i just wish jake would feel as comfortable with DJ as he does with moose...he threw it to him early and i knew he wouldn't see another pass the rest of the game...gross is done and thats gonna hurt us even though he wasn't playing great this year...secondary has like 8 or 9 capable players in it which is crazy...good win now do it again on thurs and we'll see where we are at as far as wild card goes...
Posted by: rjk | Nov 15, 2009 5:16:48 PM
Just got in from the game, and Good Jake showed up ! The defense was tight all day, the "D" line especially. Jason Baker should get the game ball for that hit on the punt return.
Posted by: nasty 704 | Nov 15, 2009 5:19:24 PM
Ah way to go for your daughter spacey....I can just see the excitement on her face holding that ball....So maybe Marshall had the right idea after all....
Game ball to I'm sure a well deserving young lady!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Nov 15, 2009 5:30:48 PM
Pep made one of the key plays of the game late on the 3rd down where he pulled Ryan off balance, grabbing his right arm in the middle of the throw, causing the ball to end up on the ground short of the intedned receiver for what would have been close to the first down. Knowing he had a hurt hand tells me why he wasn't quite as involved today, but he still was. Atlanta was doing their typical good job of chop blocking guys, and Pep had his legs taken out a number of times.
Posted by: Richard | Nov 15, 2009 6:23:12 PM
Okay people, Miami's coming with that wildcat BS on thursday. If the def. coordinator has his stuff together, the CAT's will be ready for that sort of thing. If not, it doesn't matter how many injuries the team has !!
Posted by: nasty 704 | Nov 15, 2009 7:54:28 PM
"The play call looked conservative, but turned out big: Jonathan Stewart took a handoff to the left side, burst into the secondary and rambled 45 yards for the game-clinching touchdown." --- Yeah, it was conservative, but why give them any real credit, right???
And it's about time Jake woke up. I guess he had to wait until things looked dismal (as far as playoff hopes and expectations) before he gave it some serious effort, evident by how he ran with the ball when he couldn't find anyone open. He did become ineffective in the second half though. I guess having a game lead is like kryptonite to him--- or more like what cholrine is to bacteria (the last thing I want to do is compare his on-field performances to Superman).
It would be great to get revenge on Dan Henning Thursday. It would be also be fantastic to watch them go to Foxboro and humble the Paper Champions once again! Hopefully, by then, the team will be behind again so Jake can have a good performance.
Posted by: SYRPIS | Nov 16, 2009 6:43:06 AM
i dont think we have to worry about the falcons.they suck.their pass defense is horrible.we are in the hunt again with a win vs miami.
what worrys me the most is that we finish 8-8 and make the playoffs and that gives richardson an excuse to keep fox.im afraid were going to need a total seifert type meltdown before changes are made. this team is way too talented to be 4-5.to all you jake koolade drinkers,jake sucks!
Posted by: ray | Nov 16, 2009 10:29:07 AM
From www.realpantherfans.com/forum
85 South 85 South....
Man it was fantastic to see what was a pretty large and loud group of Falcon fans walking out of that stadium yesterday looking at the ground. There’s nothing better than walking down the ramp after a Panther win and seeing how excited everyone is. If we could all have that spirit on the way into the game and at other points throughout when it matters... Great win yesterday, much needed. Go Panthers!!!
Posted by: RealFan1 | Nov 16, 2009 11:35:39 AM
SPACEYTOYZ....
in case you havent seen it, there is a picture of Marshall handing the ball off to a beautiful young lady in the Carolina photo gallery of Sundays game..
Very nice pic...congrats to your daughter on getting that game ball again!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Nov 17, 2009 12:35:13 AM
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