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December 20, 2009
Panthers pound Vikings 26-7 with big plays and defense
The Carolina Panthers may be out of the playoffs but they're not finished.
Getting a dynamic performance from their defense and wide receiver Steve Smith, the Panthers defeated Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings 26-7 Sunday night in Bank of America Stadium.
The Panthers (6-8) broke the game open in the fourth quarter, scoring three touchdowns to send the Vikings (11-3) home with their second loss in three games.
Carolina broke the Vikings with big plays in the fourth quarter, including a 45-yard scoring strike from quarterback Matt Moore to Steve Smith on the second play of the quarter for a 12-7 lead.
Smith had another 45-yard reception on the Panthers' next possession, which led to a three-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart, who became the first back in 36 games to rush for more than 100 yards against the Vikings.
After a 55-yard reception by tight end Gary Barnidge, the Panthers put the game away on a two-yard scoring pass from Moore to Stewart in the closing minutes.
The Carolina defense limited MInnesota running back Adrian Peterson to 35 yards on 12 carries while holding Favre to 224 yards passing.
Smith, meanwhile, had nine catches for 157 yards and Moore had his best game of the season, completing 21 of 33 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns.
-- Ron Green Jr.
Posted by Observer Sports on December 20, 2009 at 11:21 PM | Permalink
Comments
Moore threw THREE touchdowns tonight. Smith, Stewart, and Hoover.
Anyway, great win by the Panthers. Moore looked really good. The defense continues to be stellar.
Posted by: Chris | Dec 20, 2009 11:25:39 PM
Our defense was just plain INCREDIBLE tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: SpecialK | Dec 20, 2009 11:27:10 PM
I bet Favre would have paid Peppers a million just to have stayed at home tonight!!!!
Great game Panthers!!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Dec 20, 2009 11:27:10 PM
Fox fighting for his job, period.
Fox will come out tomorrow and proclaim Jake the starter if healthy as well. Jerk.
Posted by: Phil | Dec 20, 2009 11:27:48 PM
On behalf of WWW.RealPantherFans.com I would like to say Go Panthers! Great win! Smoke on that one Brett!
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Posted by: RealFan1 | Dec 20, 2009 11:28:20 PM
great game panthers, hey panther organization you got to ake a choice for real now matt moore will have a job next year for sure now with us or clevland or soebody else, he outplayed bret the legend far on national tv..294yds, thrr td no itswow and oh yeah peppers you earn your money tongiht..
Posted by: tim | Dec 20, 2009 11:28:47 PM
F'ing AWESOME WIN, AWESOME WIN!!!! NO DEANGELO, BACKUP QB, NO KEMO, O LINEMEN DOWN, MOST EXHILARATING WIN EVER!
And yes I was wrong about this win and our total wins and GLADLY ADMIT IT!
HOW YOU LIKE MATT MOORE NOW, HOW... YOU... LIKE ... ...MOORE NOW!?!?! Delhomme hasn't thrown for 300 and 3 TD's with no INT's this year ON MADDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO PANTHERS, WAY TO FIGHT!
Posted by: handyman | Dec 20, 2009 11:34:10 PM
I would really like an apology from those who doubted the Panthers. Exactly what Steve Smith said "you have to play no matter what the records say." I hope the sports writers can understand that and find positive things to look for instead of how to run Fox out of town. Last thought, Fox is due a big season next year, why get rid of him now. Great Job Matt Moore - you give us the best chance to win.
Posted by: cheerman23 | Dec 20, 2009 11:35:00 PM
Man, what a game. I think Minnesota was counting on playing a team that had given up. Amazing we can slap around a team like the Vikings with 10 starters on the bench yet lose to the Bills.
Posted by: Zon | Dec 20, 2009 11:37:04 PM
Didn't Moore have 3 TD passes
Posted by: ClayB25 | Dec 20, 2009 11:37:06 PM
AMAZING D, SMITTY SHOWED HIS SUPERSTAR TALENT, STEWIE FOUGHT LIKE A GLADIATOR, MOORE WAS A STAR, PEPPERS EARNED EVERY OUNCE OF HIS MILLION TONIGHT, heck even Brown got a sack!!!!!! WOW. Just WOW!!!
What a FANTASTIC christmas present! Merry Christmas Panther fans, we all deserve it!
Posted by: handyman | Dec 20, 2009 11:37:22 PM
Fox needs to be run out of town for being stubborn and not starting Moore after the bye week.
Typical Fox closing the barn door after all the horses and cattle have run away.
Posted by: Phil | Dec 20, 2009 11:38:06 PM
No Phil your the one that needs to leave and dont let the barn door hit you on the way out.
Posted by: cheerman23 | Dec 20, 2009 11:41:24 PM
How many times did the sportswriters around here say something about Matt Moore obviously can't play because he was not being played. Maybe our coach is just not as good as he's made out to be.
Posted by: uptoolate | Dec 20, 2009 11:45:05 PM
Did everyone watch peppers 2010 job audition tonight? Both he and his agent are nothing but a couple of horse thieves.
Posted by: stork302 | Dec 20, 2009 11:48:39 PM
ELI -ELI HERE WE COME.GREAT GAME PANTHERS.EVEN JAKE THE WAY HE STAYED OUT OF THE WAY.DID GREAT.HE IS PLAYING HIS BEST GAMES FROM THERE.I THINK FOX WILL HAVE A RECORD SEASON NEXT YEAR.DUH;; HE;S GOT A QB NOW.LOOK OUT
Posted by: graysong | Dec 20, 2009 11:48:56 PM
If they'll let Mat finish out the rest of this season and play all four preseason games early next year, we'll have our NFL quarter back!
Posted by: stork302 | Dec 20, 2009 11:52:30 PM
3tds no ints now watch fox come out and name name jake the starter new week.
Posted by: eric | Dec 20, 2009 11:52:40 PM
Its fun to see what the Panthers are capable of when they actually try to get Smitty the ball. Special players make special plays. It was also nice to see the defense have another game playing physical and forcing turnovers. Peppers and Smitty have to be featured more.
Posted by: Al | Dec 20, 2009 11:52:51 PM
Thank you Smitty and the new Matty Ice! This is why I love the Panthers. Big game from James Anderson, too.
Even though, your inconsistency drives me crazy, Coach Fox, your defense is on a roll, you've got your running game, and now you have a QB to not give the ball away (will always love you Delhomme - but the torch has passed). I submit that Mr. Richardson let Coach Fox finish his contract; however, please draft/sign another good WR. Very good O line play as well.
And Coach Childress said during pre-game he wasn't worried about a let down...
Posted by: Scott | Dec 20, 2009 11:53:45 PM
no td,no yards,and no ints.This was jake's best game of the season.
Posted by: eric | Dec 20, 2009 11:54:11 PM
Nice to see the offense and Moore catch a rythm! Let's see what happens in NY...
Posted by: Scott | Dec 20, 2009 11:56:35 PM
Stork...are you having VISIONS of PEPPERS running around in your head?
Posted by: Jennifer | Dec 20, 2009 11:57:10 PM
Heck, I thought Moore had a pretty good game against the pats too. Foxie needs to stop being so hard headed. After that decision right before the half, I think he's starting to become the big question mark in Panther country. Not Mat!
Posted by: stork302 | Dec 20, 2009 11:57:44 PM
Jennifer, I've got visions of him gettin on a bus
Posted by: stork302 | Dec 20, 2009 11:59:30 PM
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