CCR No. 19 - NFC South Predictions!

Cat Crave Radio is back with our nineteenth episode!  We took our best shot at making predictions for the NFC South, Ranted and Raved, dug into the Police Blotter, Boomed and Busted and covered the top five issues facing the Carolina Panthers during trainig camp.

Our thanks to Brian Miller of Phin Phanatic for joining us once again!

Episode Nineteen:  July 20, 2008

In Episode Nineteen…

For a complete archive of our shows, visit our Radio Page.

Hooray for Hyperbole!

Hype, hype and more hype!  And it’s only July.

You’ve heard it.  I’ve heard it.  There is no offseason.  There is certainly no offseason for hype, that’s for sure.

The boss (one of them) has been a busy dude somehow acquiring tickets to the most hyped movie in ten years - The Dark Knight.  I guess he figured since he was forced to pay an extravagent amount for those tickets, he better write something about it.  It’s a very good article that deserves two gold stars, a box of Twinkies and deserves to be placed on the refrigerator door.

So, while contemplating the change from my moth-riddled, favorite t-shirt that I’ve now been wearing for four days (thank you, Bob Costas), I was also paying heed to the summer blockbusters and all of the drivel great movies churned out by the movie machine in Hollywood.

The mission became clear - actually do some work so the boss doesn’t can me…or was it something else?  Oh, yeah!  It was to create a list of movies and how they relate to the Carolina Panthers and some of their key players.  Off we go right after you click on this fancy little link right here!

The Adventures of Pluto Nash

The Panthers are getting no love.  None.  Nada.  Zilch.

Every online and print publication is hyping the Cowboys, Patriots, Colts, Chargers, Packers but not our Panthers.  They are being treated as if they are the “Adventures of Pluto Nash” of this season.  You know, the crappy team that has no shot whatsoever.

All of the “experts” point to Jake Delhomme’s elbow and say, “See!!!!!  He had Tommy John surgery!”

Yes he did.

Maybe they haven’t heard the news that he was sharp in mini camp.  Perhaps they had their heads in the sand when Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad, two guys who know something about what a quarterback should look like, said that he looked better than they recall him looking for a long time.

This team is capable of some big things.  Let the hype machine overlook them.  No problem.  They’ll be able to shock the NFL world!

No Country For Old Men

They say that Muhsin Muhammad lost a step.  They believe that he was given a chance to succeed in Chicago for three years even while playing with the worst group of quarterbacks to come down the pike in a generation.

Worst of all, they think that at 35 years old and after 13 years in the league that he won’t be able to contribute much.  He’s simply too old, they say.

Shoot, check this guy out doing an interview on the sidelines after a practice session.  Have these pundits been paying attention?  I doubt they were in this kind of physical condition when they were 25, much less when they were 35.

Moose keeps himself in tremendous shape.  He runs some of the best routes in the NFL.  Just as important, his downfield blocking is a critical addition to the Panthers offense.

The Bank Job

It isn’t the best known movie and neither is the situation with Jordan Gross.

The deadline to finish a deal with Gross came and went on Tuesday.  If a new contract isn’t worked out, he’ll be playing this season for $7.455 million.  If he is franchised again next year, due to a required 20% increase in salary, he’ll be getting at least $8.946 million.  That number could increase since he has to be paid, as a franchise player, the average salary of the top five at his position in the league.

No news is bad news, potentially.  Carolina needs to secure Gross’ services for the future as soon as they can.  Great or even very good tackles don’t grow on trees in the NFL.

No matter what, Jordan Gross will be laughing all the way to the bank very soon.

Man On Fire

Is John Fox on the hot seat?  Does Jerry Richardson want to can him if the team doesn’t win this season?

There have been two poor seasons during John Fox’s tenure that have been brought about by injuries - one lost to injuries along the offensive line the other when quarterbacks were harder to come by than cheap gas.

It can be argued that he failed to plan ahead in the event that injuries hit his squad.  Maybe he wasn’t thinking ahead.

However, it can also be argued that this man has led the Carolina Panthers to one Super Bowl and within one game of another after inheriting one of the biggest piles of dung in the NFL.  How many coaches can say that?

If John Fox is on the hot seat, I’m not sure who would be hired to replace him.  Who out there is thinking of one Bill Cowher?

Cloverfield

Mayhem.  Horror. Destruction.  Terror.

These were all things that Julius Peppers was inflicting on opposing offenses right up to the end of the 2006 season.

Then came 2007.

His play last season made us all wonder what was wrong.  Was it double teams?  The defensive game plan?  A lack of motivation?

Much like the movie, Julius cannot become that entity that arrives with much fanfare and hype and can’t seem to deliver.  He must figure it out now.  We can’t handle a repeat performance of what we saw a year ago.

More importantly for J-Pepp, he’s going into a contract year and is due a huge payday.  The team is already negotiating with him in good faith feeling as if he will return to his old self again.  If a deal can’t be reached, he’ll have to earn that paycheck on the field in ‘08.

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While we’re at it, I’d like to inform you of a new Fan Sided blog that recently took to the internets.  It’s called 12th Man Rising and it’s dedicated to the Seattle Seahawks.  Visit David Sanders who has all of the latest news and info on the Seahawks.

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number One

Here we are.  Finally!  We have reached number one in our countdown of the Top Ten Moments in Carolina Panthers History.  It only took 22 days to do this.  There’s just something about wearing the same t-shirt for four days that makes a guy lazy.

There is a tremendous potential here for a few complaints for the choice at number one.  Some might point out that the team lost the game.  But there is no bigger stage in sports and rarely is there ever a game played filled with more drama.  Even more rare, is the long list of great plays and players from this game.

Without further ado…

#1.  Super Bowl XXXVIII - Carolina Panthers versus New England Patriots, February 2, 2004 (Houston - Reliant Stadium)

The Carolina Panthers were not supposed to be here.  They had finished the season 11-5 and claimed the NFC South title but had to play three playoff games, two on the road.  They were the ultimate underdog playing against a New England team that was on its way to building a dynasty having won the Super Bowl two years before.

But something happened on the way to the blowout that so many were expecting - the Carolina Panthers showed up.  These Cardiac Cats, led by Jake Delhomme, one of the most intriguing stories in years and a comeback player of the year candidate in Stephen Davis.

The defense was no slouch either.  They had held down the Cowboys, the high-powered Rams and the Eagles to reach this moment.

The first quarter was marked by big plays that would prevent any scoring.

Despite an early drive, the Patriots would experience a rarity - a missed 31-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri.  For the first time in six games, the Patriots failed to score on their first possession of the game.

Things were even tougher for the Carolina offense as they gained only three yards on their first three possessions.  The Patriots defense was harrassing Jake Delhomme who started just 1 of 9.  They were also successful in shutting down Stephen Davis and the running game.

Again, the Patriots were able to mount another drive but Vinatieri was still unable to put them on the scoreboard.  Shane Burton rose up from the middle of the defensive line to get his right hand on the kick and the game remained scoreless.

Then with just over five minutes to go before the half, Mike Vrabel sacked Delhomme forcing a fumble which New England recovered at the Panthers’ 20 yard line.  It didn’t take long for them to capitalize as Tom Brady hit Deion Branch from 5 yards out four plays later to take a 7-0 lead.

Something must have clicked on the Carolina sidelines when the score went up on the board because the offense woke up from their slumber as they put together a beautiful drive with only 3:10 to go in the half.  Taking possession at his own five yard line, Delhomme would guide his team downfield.

With passes eating up chunks of real estate, the Panthers moved the ball to the Patriots 39 where Delhomme would hit Steve Smith with a perfectly thrown pass down the left sideline for the score.  Suddenly, the game was tied at seven.

Carolina had left just over a minute on the clock - it was too much.  Tom Brady would hit Branch again deep down the middle of the field highlighting a furious drive that would move them 72 yards in only 36 seconds.  The drive ended on a five-yard pass to David Givens for a 14-7 lead.

Amazingly, the half still wasn’t over as Stephen Davis was able to break a long run and the Panthers were able to position themselves for a 50-yard field goal by John Kasay to take the game to the half with New England leading 14-10.

The second half started much like the first quarter had started as the defenses assumed control - at least until late in the period when the Patriots offense again awoke to move the ball to the Carolina four yard line.  After a two-yard penalty was assessed, Antowain Smith took the ball to the house giving New England a 21-10 lead.

Jake wasn’t done.  Far from it.  On the ensuing Carolina possession, he would take his team the distance on a 6-play, 83-yard drive that was capped off with a beautiful run by DeShaun Foster from 33 yards out.  Foster took the handoff, started up the middle, cut left, split defenders, cut left again breaking a tackle, then broke free down the left sideline.  He would leave his feet and fly the remaining 9 feet, ball outstretched, parallel to the ground for the score.

Coach John Fox elected to attempt a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 3.  It didn’t work.  Jake Delhomme’s pass down the middle intended for Muhsin Muhammad fell incomplete and the score remained 21-16 in New England’s favor.

An answer followed from Tom Brady.  He drove his team from his own 27 in nine plays to the Carolina 9-yard line.  But Reggie Howard would make a crucial interception two yards deep in the end zone and return it to the ten yard line.  A five-yard penalty on the Patriots would set the stage for one of the single prettiest plays in Carolina Panthers history.

Two incomplete passes would start the next possession for Delhomme and the Panthers but on third down, Jake lofted a perfect spiral down the left sideline, hitting Muhsin Muhammad at the New England 33 in stride.  He would race the distance to complete a Super Bowl-record 85-yard touchdown pass.  Suddenly, the underdog Panthers had the lead 22-21 desite a second failed two-point conversion.

Something special was hapening but everyone watching had to know that Tom Brady wasn’t finished yet.  They were right.

The Patriots would begin at their own 32.  They moved the ball effectively, taking eleven plays, including only two running plays, to re-take the lead.  It was a one-yard pass to Mike Vrabel followed by a rush by Kevin Faulk for the two-point conversion that made the score 29-22 in favor of the Pats.

Jake Delhomme got the ball back with only 2:51 remaining.  He didn’t disappoint moving the team from his own 37 to the New England 12 in 6 plays.  The drive was capped by a 12-yard pass to Ricky Proehl and the game was tied at 29.

Still, how many were looking up at the game clock?  Did everyone watching ask the same question:  Are those 68 seconds left on the clock too much time?

Panthers fans would not receive the answer they wanted.

The ensuing kickoff by John Kasay went out of bounds down the right sideline.  Now, not only did Brady have time but he also had great field position at his own 40.

He would begin the winning drive with back to back 13-yard passes to Troy Brown.  Then a four-yard pass to Daniel Graham and a 17-yard pass to Deion Branch.  Suddenly the ball was at the Carolina 23 setting up Adam Vinatieri for a 41-yard field goal.  This time, he would be dead on and down the center with only 4 ticks left on the clock.

Carolina could muster little on the final kickoff and the game was over as New England had prevailed 32-29.

It was a loss on the biggest stage that professional sports can provide but the Panthers valient effort saw many outstanding individual performances.

Mike Minter had broken his foot in the third quarter yet he played on totalling 14 tackles; Jake Delhomme put up 323 yards passing while throwing 3 TDs; Muhsin Muhammad had 4 catches for 140 yards and 1 TD; Dan Morgan had a game-high 18 tackles while Will Witherspoon added 13 of his own.

The day belonged to New England but the Carolina Panthers gained the world’s respect in defeat.  It was a bittersweet end to an amazing season.

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Ten

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Nine

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Eight

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Seven

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Six

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Five

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Four

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Three

Top Ten Moment in Panthers History - Number Two

Gross Out?

Jordan Gross must be singing “Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now” as he goes about his day.

He was given the franchise tag this offseason by the Caroilna Panthers and had to feel as if the team would negotiate a new contract with him to take him well beyond the 200 season.

Not so fast, Jordan.

A deadline looms on these negotiations and it’s going to be here sooner than later.  From the Rock Hill Herald…

Tuesday’s the deadline for the Panthers to negotiate a long-term contract with their franchise player this season, but it doesn’t appear that’s going to happen.

That means Gross will play out the year under his one-year, $7.455 million deal that came along with the tag, and potentially be an unrestricted free agent next year.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney didn’t want to comment on the specifics of the negotiations, but there apparently haven’t been any in some time. That could change with a phone call, but the Panthers’ stance appears to be to stand pat.

Tuesday, huh?  Man, that’s gonna be tough.  I still have to get a haircut, get some groceries and still have to stop by and pay that water bill since those jerks that work at the water works won’t let me mail it in anymore.  I’m not so sure I can make it that day.

Really, how must Gross be feeling?  I was under the impression that good tackles were far from a dime a dozen in the NFL and when you found one you hung on to them like you were dancing.

If there are no negotiations and this deadline comes and goes, the team can still work something out.  Just as important, they could also throw the franchsie tag on him again next season preventing him from hitting the open market.

There is a precedent for this, according to the Herald.

It’s not unheard of for teams to keep using the tag on the same guy. Seattle did it three years running on tackle Walter Jones before finally getting a long-term deal. Of course, Jones was a perennial Pro Bowler, not a guy who may or may not even be a left tackle.

The good folks at the Herald also mention how Gross can gain tremendous leverage if he proves that he can move from right tackle to left tackle successfully.

True.

But they also mention that some in the organization believe that rookie Jeff Otah might manage the spot should Gross leave the team.

To those people I would say don’t count your chickens before they play left tackle.  You can’t be sure that the rookie can handle right tackle yet.  And to think now that he can move easily enough to the left is a foolish thing.  Besides, holding on to two good, solid tackles in this league is critical.

Maybe this is just a reporter jumping the gun a little.  Maybe the deadline doesn’t mean that much since the team can still pick up a phone and call Gross’ agent and work something out.  It’s just real hard not to get at least a little nervous when it appears that the team is taking an approach that borders on cavalier.

CCR 18: Special Guest - Tom Sorensen

Cat Crave Radio is proud to host special guest Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer this week!  Tom took some time to speak to us about the Carolina Panthers and the upcoming season.  It is a candid interview.  Our thanks to Tom for taking some time out of his schedule to join us. We also had the opportunity to speak to Matt Loede of NFL Gridiron Gab this week.  Matt dropped some knowledge on us about the ‘08 season. Episode Eighteen:  July 13, 2008 In Episode Eighteen…

• News - NFC South Preview Part Three - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Rant Or Rave - Brian Miller (Phin Phanatic)
• Player Profile - Brad Hoover
• Special Guest - Tom Sorensen (Charlotte Observer)
• Boom or Bust - Brian Miller (Phin Phanatic)
• Special Guest - Matt Loede (NFL Gridiron Gab)
• The Top Five - Brett Favre

For a complete archive of our shows, visit our Radio Page.

Favre Rumor Number 7,397,204

Anybody remember just a few days ago how I tried my best to shoot down the notion of Brett Favre coming to the Carolina Panthers?  Anyone?

That was prompted by a report from the rarely reliable Pro Football Talk who, at the time, told us the following:

Agent Bus Cook has been yapping a lot over the past several months regarding the future of his star client, Brett Favre.

Most recently, we heard that Cook had been telling people that Brett still wants to play.  (Two days later, it was widely reported that Brett is telling people that Brett still wants to play.)

We’re now hearing that Cook is privately saying that Favre wants to play for the . . . . drum roll, please . . . oh, wait, it’s in the headline . . .Carolina Panthers.

That was then.

Now, another source, this time a much more reliable one, the New York Times, gives us this little nuggett:

Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said Saturday that he would find a place for Favre in Green Bay, but he would understand if Favre wanted to be the unquestioned starter. That turns the conversation to a deal, though it seems unlikely any team would give up more than a third-round pick. There are nearly as many trade possibilities as there are trading partners.

The two teams that could seemingly use Favre the most are the least likely to acquire him. The Chicago Bears, with Rex Grossman, and the Minnesota Vikings, with Tarvaris Jackson, have struggled with quarterback play in recent years. Green Bay, however, would have to be overwhelmed with an offer to deal him within the National Football Conference North.

So, it makes more sense to look outside the division. The Carolina Panthers and the Miami Dolphins have reportedly contacted his agent. The Panthers finished 7-9 last season and used four starters, but have Jake Delhomme returning. The Dolphins finished 1-15 and lack an experienced starter.

The Carolina Panthers have been tagged as a team that is a starting quarterback away from competing for the division and the playoffs.  Bull!

Jake Delhomme will be back.  Sure, he could get hurt and the team could struggle.  But following that logic also means that the Colts, Patriots, Chargers, Cowboys and every other NFL team are also one starting quarterback away from missing the playoffs.

There are far too many reasons not to do this.  The first of which is that Ted Thompson is going to attempt to make a deal and if the Panthers gave up even more draft picks in the ‘09 draft to mortgage their future, especially as high as a third-rounder, they are over paying.

Favre is likely a one-season stop-gap.  He would be on the bench behind Delhomme.  How much do you pay for a guy to sit on the bench and hold a clipboard?  If he’s a 17-year veteran, he’s not going to stay with you long.

Anybody remember a guy by the name of Joe Montana who attempted to keep his career alive with Kansas City?  Results: two playoff appearances, two playoff wins, 25 starts, and a quarterback rating no higher than 87.4.  Note the number of Super Bowls - zero.

To pay a high price for a guy who has never played in this type of offense before, who would be learning new coaches and players, who doesn’t want to sit on the bench at all, who admits that he just doesn’t think he can handle the rigors of game preparation during the week, is ludicrous.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again - don’t make a deal to bring in Brett Favre!!!  If you get him for just the cost of the contract you might want to consider it.  But I don’t want to throw away draft picks to get a guy who won’t be with the team beyond 2008.

One, Er, Uh, Two Down And…Wait A Minute!

Funny.  You spend your day running around the internets looking for news.  There really isn’t any.  Until you read that the Carolina Panthers have signed Mackenzy Bernadeau to a contract.  Not so fast!

The Charlotte Observer is now reporting the follwing.

The Carolina Panthers signed sixth-round draft pick Nick Hayden to a four-year contract, general manager Marty Hurney said Friday. Hurney wouldn’t release financial details of the deal with Hayden, a defensive tackle from Wisconsin.

Hurney also said the team is “close” to deals with tight end Gary Barnidge, a fifth-rounder from Louisville, and offensive guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, a seventh-round choice from Bentley (Mass.), and should have them signed early next week. The team’s two other seventh-rounders — North Carolina linebacker Hilee Taylor and Oregon offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz — are next on the Panthers’ priority list, according to Hurney.

Sounds like the team is working from the seventh round to the first.  Nothing wrong with that except I just got through reading that Bernadeau had signed and reported it, well, maybe not.

Either way, let’s just hope the team can get all their rookies into camp on time.  One clue to a rookie signing is the release of a player.  Rookies don’t count against the 80-player limit until they are signed.

One Down, Eight to Go!

You are not going to believe this!!!  The Carolina Panthers signed a draft pick to a contract!  That leaves eight unsigned.

The problem is that the first guy they got signed is Mackenzy Bernadeau, a seventh-round draft pick.  Bernadeau was a guard at Bentley College.

There are still eight to go including both first rounders, Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah.  The team is normally a little slow to sign draft picks.  Let’s just hope there isn’t a high-profile holdout during training camp…again!

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Two

Down to the final two!  Our countdown of the top moments in Carolina Panthers history has nearly reached its conclusion.

Occasionally, teams meet under circumstances that are straining for both squads.  Our number two moment is one of those.

#2.  NFC Championship Game - Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles - January 18, 2004

The Carolina Panthers were coming off of a win versus Dallas at home and an improbable victory over the high-powered Rams in St. Louis.  They hadn’t had a week off since week three of the regular season and had played games over sixteen consecutive weeks.

The Philadelphia Eagles were a team that was coming off of two straight seasons of making it to the NFC Championship Game only to lose one game short of the Super Bowl each time.  This season had to be different.  They had won 12 games and earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

With the way the two teams were built this promised to be a slugfest.  It didn’t disappoint.

This game saw a first quarter with little real scoring opportunities.  The Panthers did advance the ball to the Philadelphia 32 but were forced to punt while the Eagles answered with a drive to the Carolina 36 but had to do the same.  In all, the quarter saw four punts.

The action heated up in the second quarter, however.  Carolina began what would be the first scoring drive of the game at their own 21 yard line.  Jake Delhomme and his teammates would put together a beautiful drive.  Six runs and three passes, highlihgted by a 21-yard pass to Stephen Davis and a 15-yard pass to Muhsin Muhammad, the drive to set up the first score from the Eagles’ 24.  Jake Delhomme would hit Moose for the second time on the drive, despite double coverage, for a 24-yard TD.

A critical play also took place in that second quarter.  The Eagles were driving late in the half.  They had moved the ball to the Carolina 23, when Donovan McNabb would trip going back to pass on a sack by Mike Rucker.  The hit shook McNabb as he left for one play with a rib injury.  He would return to complete a 10-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell.  That set up Philadelphia’s only points on a David Akers’ 41-yard field goal.

With the Eagles driving again, Ricky Manning would pick off a McNabb pass that would effectively end the half with 47 seconds remaining.

The third quarter saw much of the same.  Carolina continued to rely on the running game and minimize Jake Delhomme’s passing - he would finish 9-14, 101, 1 TD.  The defense also kept up the pressure on McNabb and the Eagles offense as he struggled to play through his rib injury.

Ricky Manning continued to shine picking off two more passes in the quarter.  One of them was absolutely critical as he stepped right in front of Todd Pinkston, the intended target.  McNabb never saw him and threw the pass directly to him.  A Philadelphia scoring threat had been thwarted at the Carolina 18-yard line.

Manning’s second interception of the third quarter would setup Carolina’s next score as he picked off a pass at midfield and returned it 13 yards putting the offense back on the field with only 37 yards to cover to reach the endzone.

Four plays and two minutes later, after a pass interference call put the ball on the one yard line, DeShaun Foster would create a seminal moment in team history.  Foster would take the pitch to the right, dodge a defender behind the line of scrimmage, break three tackles at the two, shed a defender at the one and dive to the cone.  It was a hard-fought run - a thing of beauty on a day dominated by defense.  Carolina led 14-3.

Koy Detmer would come in to finish off the game.  He moved the Eagles to the Carolina 12 where the defense, once again, would rise up.  Detmer was picked off at the 8-yard line by Dan Morgan.  The fate of both teams was sealed.

The Eagles would continue to be tormented by falling one game short while the upstart Panthers were on their way to Super Bowl XXXVIII to play the New England Patriots.

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Ten

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Nine

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Eight

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Seven

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Six

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Five

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Four

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Three

Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Three

We are back with the greatest moments in Carolina Panthers history. The final three in our run to the top spot might come as little surprise to many of you.  Maybe this portion of the list provides an anti-climactic finish.  We’ll let you be the judge of that. At number three is a moment (or a game) that, for many, had an unexpected outcome.  Few outside of the Panthers locker room thought this matchup would end quite like this. #3.  2003 NFC Divisional Playoffs - Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams, January 10, 2004 Coming into this game very few people believed that the Panthers had a shot.  The Rams had been a jugernaut in recent seasons.  They had won the Super Bowl only four years before and had been upset by New England on the biggest stage only two years before.  They had finished the 2003 season at 12-4 behind an explosive offense led by Marc Bulger. Carolina was a team that had played a lot of close games relying on their defense and a strong running game which was dominated by Stephen Davis.  However, in the second quarter of this game, Davis would suffer a quadriceps injury on a 64-yard run and would have to watch from the sidelines making him a non-factor. Early in the game the Rams offense looked sharp.  They appeared to move the ball easily against the Panthers defense yet could only manage two field goals and held a 6-0 lead despite twice having marched the ball inside the Carolina ten yard line. In the second quarter the Carolina offense got things going as they moved the ball 68 yards in four plays (including the run that resulted in the Davis injury).  That’s when things got kind of weird. With the ball at the St. Louis four-yard line, Jake Delhomme went back to pass only to have the ball punched out of his throwing hand.  The ball seemed to take a bite out of the turf and bounce around wildly off of several players only to be knocked forward by a pile of humanity just beyond the goal line.  Muhsin Muhammad was at the right place at the right time and recovered the loose ball for the Panthers first points.  A review and a lengthy delay ensued.  The play was ruled a fumble and not an incomplete pass and the Panthers led 7-6. Jeff Wilkins and John Kasay accounted for the remaining points of the half and the Panthers headed to the intermission with a 10-9 lead. The third quarter was more of the same as Wilkins added one field goal and Kasay two to bring the first three quarters of play to a close with Carolina up 16-12. That’s when Carolina seemed to take control.  The offense pieced together an impressive 7-play, 73-yard drive capped off by a 7-yard score by Brad Hoover to stake a 23-12 lead.  The game was far from over, however as the Rams offense, referred to as “The Greatest Show on Turf,” still had the power to change the game. They did. They responded with a grinding 15-play, 57-yard drive highlighted by a fourth and two pass from Bulger to Marshall Faulk good for 22 yards.  The drive ended with a Faulk one-yard run for a TD.  Bulger hit Dane Looker with a pass for the 2-point conversion and the game had suddenly gotten much tighter with Carolina leading 23-20. The Rams luck continued as they got the right bounce on the ensuing onside kick.  Jeff Wilkins kick took an odd backwards hop and right back to where it came from.  The kicker cradled the ball and gave the Rams the ball right back. St. Louis took advantage and took the ball 43 yards in 5 plays all the way to the Panthers 15.  That’s when Mike Martz decided to go for the tie and force overtime.  Wilkins hit the 33-yarder and the game was extended. After that, things got really strange.  Carolina had blown an 11-point lead in the final 8:50 of regulation so their psyche had to be a little bit strained.  Not so.  They took the opening kickoff of overtime and marched convincingly down the field setting up a John Kasay field goal which he hit easily from 40 yards.  A delay of game penalty changed all of that. From five yards farther away, Kasay would miss the field goal and the battle between the Rams and Panthers for a ticket to the NFC Championship Game continued. Adding fifteen minutes to the game seemed to also add more interesting plays.  The Rams were driving late in the fifth quarter when Ricky Manning picked off Marc Bulger (his third interception of the game) giving the upstart Panthers the ball.  This was to set up what would become a moment of legend in Panthers history. It was a drive that lasted only three plays.  It covered 65 yards.  It lasted only 1:11 in game time.  Yet it will go down in the minds of the fans as one of the greatest drives (and plays) ever. The first play of the second overtime became the final play in the Rams season and the play that would propel Carolina to within 60 minutes of the Super Bowl. Jake Delhomme dropped back from his own 31-yard line, pumped right and hit Steve Smith between defenders and in stride at the Rams 45.  Smith would split the defense and race untouched into the endzone. The Edward Jones Dome fell earily silent.  Only the celebration from the Carolina sidelines could be heard.  The Rams were headed home and the Panthers were off to Philadelphia to play the Eagles for the right to appear in Super Bowl XXXVIII. “I just beat the safety and Jake threw one of those pretty balls in the last minute, like he always does,” Smith said. This was a bit of an odd game.  The teams combined for 47 first downs but the Panthers also had 13 penalties.  Also, the kickers were a combined 8 of 11 with Wilkins missing one field goal and Kasay missing two.  Two telling stats - Carolina had rushed 41 times for 216 yards and had held the ball for 41:06 out of a total of 75:10 of regulation and overtime. Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Ten Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Nine Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Eight Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Seven Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Six Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Five Top Ten Moments in Panthers History - Number Four

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