Delhomme, Panthers Just Can't Get Going

PHILADELPHIA--It's just not happening for the Carolina Panthers, a trendy Super Bowl pick by many prognosticators entering this season after reaching last season's NFC title game.

Their record dropped to 6-6 with Monday night's 27-24 defeat here to the Philadelphia Eagles, and they unraveled late in the game.

They had a 24-17 lead after kicker John Kasay's 45-yard field goal with just more than 11 minutes to play. But it took the Eagles only about 90 seconds to tie the game on a 40-yard touchdown pass from fill-in quarterback Jeff Garcia to wide receiver Reggie Brown.

Then Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme, who'd thrown three touchdown passes and no interceptions to that point, came unglued. He threw two crucial interceptions down the stretch, one to set up the Eagles' go-ahead field goal and another to prevent the Panthers from tying or winning the game in the final minute.

The first interception came on a pass that Delhomme, while under some pass-rush pressure, floated directly to safety Brian Dawkins. Panthers Coach John Fox said he wasn't certain whether running back Nick Goings had cut off his pattern too soon or Delhomme simply had made a poor throw.

"It was inopportune, without a doubt," Fox said.

The Eagles cashed in with kicker David Akers's 25-yard field goal with 3:13 left. The Panthers managed a first down at the Eagles 7-yard line in the game's final 30 seconds, but Delhomme threw an interception on a fade pattern to wideout Keyshawn Johnson after tipping cornerback Lito Sheppard to the play call with a hand gesture just before the snap.

Delhomme has thrown interceptions in seven straight games, and the Panthers are left in a wild scramble for a wild-card playoff spot in a conference in which only four teams--the division leaders--have winning records.

"We had an opportunity to win tonight and we came up short," Fox said. "We have four games left, and a lot can happen."

By Mark Maske |  December 5, 2006; 10:31 AM ET  | Category:  Panthers
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