Scott Says ...

My Panthers-Jets pick

2009-11-27T08:39:00.002-05:00

For sheer entertainment value, I love New York Jets coach Rex Ryan. He said in the offseason that he didn’t come to New York to “kiss Bill Belichick’s rings.” He cried in front of his team after a recent loss, then jokingly introduced Kleenex as his new sponsor a few days later.

Ryan also said last week he felt “disrespected” by the Patriots, who unsuccessfully threw deep with 30 seconds to go with a 31-14 lead. I hope Ryan does something controversial Sunday against Carolina – it’s just a shame he doesn’t coach an NFC South team so we’d get to see him twice a year.

-- My unofficial “over-under” on total interceptions thrown in Sunday’s game: 2.5. Jets’ rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez is second in the NFL with 16. The Panthers’ Jake Delhomme has slowed down his pace some, thankfully, but remains tied for third with 14. (Chicago’s Jay Cutler leads the NFL with 18 picks).

-- The Jets are mediocre at stopping the run, so DeAngelo Williams better get at least 20 carries today. He only had 13 last week, which was a crime given that he averaged 9.4 yards per carry and Carolina lost by a TD. Expect the Jets to run a ton, too – they’ve got one of the NFL’s best rushing offenses (ranked No.2 to Carolina's No.3).

-- The Jets have one of the NFL’s great home fan bases (J-E-T-S), but this game should test those fans. Two 4-6 teams, the Sunday after Thanksgiving when lots of people are traveling – it’s not exactly your ideal circumstance. Still, it will be a greater homefield advantage than the Panthers would have if this game were in Charlotte.

-- The Panthers may as well get used to the visitor’s locker room – they return to the same stadium in a month to play the New York Giants in what seemed like a great game in September but now looks like it won't mean much more than this one.

-- My prediction (albeit reluctantly, given the Panthers' doggish performance vs. Miami): Carolina 23, New York Jets 21.

Notes: I'm only 6-4 picking Panther games this season -- they fooled me with that loss against Miami. Check back on this blog either very late tonight or else sometime Saturday -- I'm going to post some thoughts about the Bobcats and LeBron James after covering tonight's Bobcats-Cavs game in Charlotte).

Happy Thanksgiving yall

2009-11-25T16:22:00.003-05:00

Hello, everyone:

I'm going to take a tiny break here from chronicling the local sports scene to just say: Thank you.

You don't know how much I appreciate all of yall who stop by this blog from time to time. If you offer comments, so much the better -- and I don't mind a bit if they disagree with my own opinion (as long as we keep it clean).

Thanksgiving comes at us from lots of different directions, depending on where we are in life. Wherever you are when you see this, and whatever you are either looking forward to doing (or dreading doing) on this holiday, just accept my thanks for checking my blog and reading some of my stuff in The Charlotte Observer.

Now go on with you -- there's got to be some food for you to eat somewhere. "Scott Says" will take Turkey Day off but will be back Friday.

How to see the blown call

2009-11-24T07:07:00.004-05:00

I wrote a column today about a blown call in Monroe's high school playoff game Friday night and its aftermath.

In the story, I urge compassion for all involved -- the players, coaches and fans who got hurt by its impact, and also the well-meaning referee who is an 18-year veteran but made a bad mistake.

Some readers obviously have asked to see the call. And you can do that, although I can't make it quite as straightforward as I'd like. Try this link, which will get you close (on WBTV's Football Friday Night home page). Then look on the right side of the screen and hit "Next" to get to the second package of highlights (the game is not displayed on the first screen).

Then, once you have hit next, click "West Montgomery vs. Monroe." You will see a highlight package that lasts about 90 seconds -- the play in question comes about 60 seconds into it and was filmed by WBTV's Danielle Trotta, who was in perfect position and was the only person who recorded it anywhere near this clearly.

Alternately, if none of that works for you and you still want to see it, e-mail me at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com and I'll e-mail you the link directly. We're here to serve.

Thoughts on the Bobcats

2009-11-23T08:56:00.002-05:00

I saw the Bobcats in person for the second time Sunday afternoon. My assignment was to write about NBA rookie Tyler Hansbrough -- you can find that column here.

That didn't leave me much room to comment on the Bobcats (4-9), though, so here are a few quick thoughts about them on a rainy Monday.

-- Stephen Jackson is the most complete player the Bobcats have ever had, and the most graceful, too. He doesn't ever seem to be moving fast, but he gets to where he wants to on the court. It appears Jackson and Gerald Wallace -- who is still the most athletic Bobcat -- are still learning how to play together, though.

-- I think Gerald Henderson should be getting a few more minutes per game.

-- When the ball goes to Flip Murray, you better start heading for the glass and hoping for an offensive rebound. Murray is not exactly shy about jacking it up.

-- Nazr Mohammed led the Bobcats Sunday with 18 points in 18 minutes (here's the game story from our own Rick Bonnell). Mohammed is so much more skilled than DeSagana Diop, who Larry Brown has tried to force-feed minutes in the past as the backup center to little avail. Hopefully Mohammed continues to get more time and Diop less.

5 things I didn't like in loss to Miami

2009-11-20T00:44:00.003-05:00

And away we go: Thanks for all your suggestions for the traditional "5 Things" in the comments on the previous blog post. I incorporated some of them into this.

1. Defensive pressure and tackling. The Panthers’ defense gave up three touchdowns to Ricky Williams, who is a good back, yes. But he’s also 32 years old and wasn’t good enough to start in Miami until Ronnie Brown got hurt. Yet Williams was nearly unstoppable and broke off a 46-yard run that was the play of the game with 3:55 left in the fourth quarter. Plus, Carolina never sacked Chad Henne.

2. Offensive playcalling. I know Carolina was behind most of the game, so sure, you’ve got to throw more. But DeAngelo Williams should have rushed for 180-200 yards in this game. Miami could not stop him. And he gets 13 carries?? DeAngelo went for 122 yards – 9.4 a pop – anyway. But it should have been more for the Panthers’ most consistent offensive weapon.

How about this sequence on Carolina’s first offensive series -- first-and-goal at the Miami 7? Incomplete pass. Incomplete pass. Sack. Field goal.
Please.

3. Jake Delhomme. Can’t leave the Panthers’ embattled QB out of this list. He threw 42 times, but never had a completion of 30 or more yards. Steve Smith had 87 yards and a TD but could have had a lot more had Delhomme just not sailed a couple of deep balls over head of an open No.89.
And while that final last-gasp drive had a possibility of greatness, throwing the alley-oop from the Miami 26 (especially at Dwayne Jarrett!) is not a very good idea. Throw a bullet like Brett Favre would, straight at Smith, and let him leap high and win or lose it for you.

4. The pass blocking. Wow, does Jordan Gross ever make a difference. Delhomme was sacked four times. Left tackle Travelle Wharton just couldn’t handle Joey Porter, and there were other leaky spots, too.

5. Special-teams coverage. Yes, Miami's Ted Ginn is a force on kickoffs, but a 42.5 return average is simply not acceptable. Jason Baker also hit a horrible punt that got run back 22 yards to set up Miami’s second touchdown.

Dolphins win 24-17; Fox says "lot of football left"

2009-11-19T23:35:00.003-05:00

The Panthers' last-gasp attempt at a comeback fell short Thursday night and Miami beat Carolina, 24-17, to drop the Panthers to 4-6 this season.

The Panthers' Jake Delhomme got one chance to throw it into the end zone from the Miami 26 as time expired. He was under pressure and his lob was batted down, however, sending the home crowd back home disappointed.

Panther coach John Fox said after the game: "It came down to with their opportunities they scored touchdowns and with our opportunities we scored field goals. That was probably the difference in the game.... The reality is we're 4-6. We've still got a lot of football left.... We're still in no way or stretch out of it."

Miami was ahead for most of the game -- 14-3 at halftime and 24-14 in the fourth quarter after Ricky Williams scored his third TD of the game. Carolina then drove for a long field goal, didn't convert an onside kick but then stopped the Dolphins on four downs to get one last chance.

Carolina would have had to go 72 yards in 39 seconds with no timeouts to tie the game. Delhomme got the Panthers 46 yards before running out of time on the final Hail Mary play.

Note: I'll be posting my "5 things I didn't like" about this game around 12:30 or 1 a.m., but feel free to offer suggestions below for what should make the cut.

24-14 Dolphins as Williams scores third TD

2009-11-19T23:11:00.003-05:00

The Panthers' death knell in this game likely just sounded as Ricky Williams burst through a hole up the middle and went 46 yards for a TD -- his third of the game -- to increase Miami's lead to 24-14 late in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers had scored on a 27-yard TD pass from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith just a couple of minutes before, then made the two-point conversion to cut Miami's lead to 17-14.

But the Panther defense couldn't make the key stop -- in fact, it allowed a 59-yard, four-play drive by a Dolphin team that was really just trying to possess the ball, not necessarily score.

Panthers cut Dolphins' lead to 14-6

2009-11-19T22:30:00.003-05:00

Carolina just got its second John Kasay field goal of the game with 14:21 to go, but the Panthers still haven't dented the end zone in this entire game.

Miami leads 14-6, meaning Carolina is within a score and a two-point conversion of tying. That may be a tall order for an offense that has been having problems all game with the notable exception of running back DeAngelo Williams, who once again has more than 100 yards rushing.

The Panthers had a shot at scoring in what turned out to be a scoreless third quarter, but Jake Delhomme ended that threat by underthrowing Steve Smith inside the Panther 10 and getting intercepted. It was Delhomme's 14th interception of the season but his first in four games.

On the drive that netted the Panther field goal, Carolina had a first-and-goal at Miami's 8. But a Jonathan Stewart run, an incompletion (Jeff King was open, but Delhomme had Joey Porter wrapped around him again while throwing) and a sack meant Kasay had to trot out for another FG.

Where's offense? Panthers down 14-3 at half

2009-11-19T21:50:00.003-05:00

The Panthers are really struggling to move the ball, and they just drew a scattering of boos as they left the field for halftime, down 14-3.

Carolina took a 3-0 lead on its first possession and has done nothing since, while Miami has gotten both a rushing and receiving TD from Ricky Williams.

The Panthers' passing attack has been short-circuited by an inability to get the ball to Steve Smith -- he and Jake Delhomme just keep misfiring -- and three first-half sacks (Travelle Wharton in particular is having a hard time at LT against Joey Porter).

Get this: Delhomme threw 10 times at Smith in the first half, and only three were completed (for a total of 18 yards). Most of the seven that weren't completed were long passes -- No.17 and No.89 just can't get it together so far. And Miami is daring Carolina to throw, allowing Smith on several of those passes one-on-one coverage.

Meanwhile, Miami played a smart second quarter after doing little early. The Dolphins got one long drive -- an 81-yarder -- and then only had to go 29 yards on their second drive after a very poor Jason Baker punt was returned to Carolina's 29.

Miami takes 7-3 lead in 2nd quarter

2009-11-19T21:20:00.004-05:00

Miami running back Ricky Williams just scored on a 14-yard pass from Chad Henne, giving the Dolphins a 7-3 lead with 3:57 left in the second quarter.

The drive was a real kick in the face for the Panthers' defense, which up until then had completely held the Dolphins down. But this drive went nine plays for 81 yards and took up 5:28. Perhaps worst of all, Miami managed to get itself out of a second-and-29 hole at one point with a short pass and a draw play. That just shouldn't happen.

The defenses have really dominated most of the first half. Carolina QB Jake Delhomme has been sacked twice. After a drive for three points on the Panthers' first possession, the team punted the next three times in a row. Several deep throws to Steve Smith have gone awry.

The Dolphins punted the first three times they had the ball, too. But on their fourth drive, Henne threw a strike that went 36 yards to Brian Hartline. Miami also converted a third-and-16 draw play -- yes, Dan Henning called that one -- to get the ball inside the Panther 20.

Then, on third-and-9 from the Carolina 14, Henne hit Ricky Williams coming out of the backfield. Na'il Diggs had the only shot at him, at the 5, and Williams shook off that tackle and jogged into the end zone for Miami's 7-3 lead.

Panthers get FG on first drive, lead 3-0

2009-11-19T20:29:00.003-05:00

Carolina started briskly on this rare Thursday night with a 12-play, 51-yard drive that eventually stalled inside the Miami 10. A John Kasay FG from 30 yards out has made it 3-0, Carolina, with 9:31 left in the first quarter.

(9 p.m. UPDATE: The game's next 4 drives ended in punts, so early in the second quarter Kasay's field goal still stands as the only scoring).

The big play on the Panthers' first drive was a 21-yard pass from Jake Delhomme to TE Dante Rosario, and some good running was mixed in as well by both backs. It looked like Delhomme called some of the plays from the no-huddle, but the Panthers also huddled some in a modified hurry-up sort of offense.

Carolina's best chance at the TD was when Delhomme had one-on-one coverage on Steve Smith on second-and-goal from the 7. The Panthers tried to run a flanker screen, and if No.89 had caught it he would have had only Miami CB Vontae Davis to beat. However, Delhomme threw it too low and it skipped to Smith, who then had to content himself with jawing with Davis post-play.

Although Smith had a fender-bender on the way to the game, he looks very fired up. He not only got face-to-face with Davis on this drive, he also got in the face of Miami CB Sean Smith on the other side during the drive. No flags, just some obvious trash-talking both ways going on.

While we're waiting....

2009-11-18T23:05:00.002-05:00

As the Panthers' rare Thursday-night kickoff approaches, let me mention briefly that I will appear with former UNC basketball stars Al Wood and Brian Reese on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Scoreboard Shoppe located in Medical Center Pharmacy in Gastonia, NC. The address is 515 Cox Road. You take exit 21 off Interstate 85, and it's right there.

Al, Brian and I will be signing copies of "Tar Heels: Where Have You Gone?" That's a book I wrote about whatever happened to about 3 dozen UNC basketball stars after the cheering stopped. Wood and Reese were among those featured.

Wood was a star for the Tar Heels from 1977-81 and is still remembered for scoring 39 points against a Virginia team featuring Ralph Sampson in the 1981 Final Four. Reese was a starter on the 1993 UNC National Championship Team and is now an assistant basketball coach at Wingate University.

I'll also be signing copies of my other books there as well, including "Tales from the Carolina Panthers Sideline," which was published after the Panthers' Super Bowl season. For more information, contact the pharmacy at 704-867-5343.

Panthers will win again Thursday

2009-11-18T00:49:00.003-05:00

Since the Panthers are playing their first-ever regular-season game on Thursday this week, I'm posting my prediction on Wednesday rather than on Friday as I normally do.

OK, here's the deal: I think Carolina is going to win this one by 11.

Why? I think Carolina is catching the Dolphins at a good time, first of all. Miami won't have RB Ronnie Brown in this one, and he's the most effective weapon the Dolphins have got. I'm sure crusty old former Panthers coordinator Dan Henning will have some "Wildcat" tricks up his sleeve in Miami, but I don't think the Panthers will allow Ricky Williams or Chad Henne to have too big of a day.

Also, Carolina's own running game has been very good for most of the past month. Even without Pro Bowl LT Jordan Gross, I think it will be that way again. I think Carolina will control the clock and that Jake Delhomme will make a few good things happen.

Let's face it, neither of these teams is exactly going to contend for a Super Bowl spot. With both of them 4-5, the best you can say about this one is the winner gets to .500. But I think Carolina ultimately has more talent and is rounding into form a little better, having won 4 of its past 6.

My prediction: Carolina 27, Miami 16.

The stats: I am 6-3 predicting Panther games so far this season and am on a mild two-game win streak, including my pick of Carolina's home upset victory over the Falcons Sunday.

Charlotte 49ers: first viewing

2009-11-18T00:44:00.003-05:00

Tuesday was the first time I have seen the Charlotte 49ers play in person this season, and I guess I didn't catch them on a very good day. A 42-point defeat at the hands of Duke was the subject of my column in Wednesday's paper, which you can also find here.

Like so many teams before them, Charlotte got flustered early by Duke's pressure. It's easy to say, "Well, just cut backdoor, Duke overplays everyone." But it takes a bunch of athletes to be able to do that effectively -- athletes at the top of their game. Charlotte has a few big-time athletes, but not as many as the Blue Devils, and other than Shamari Spears, no 49er was close to the top of his game Tuesday.

Speaking of Spears, though, he may be a poor man's Charles Barkley for the 49ers this season. He's got a nice touch around the basket and although undersized to play power forward in terms of height, he uses his weight well to work his way around the basket. He's the biggest reason the 49ers, while embarrassed Tuesday, will be an improved team after last season's 11-20 debacle.

5 things I liked in Panthers' win over Atlanta

2009-11-15T17:10:00.002-05:00

Here’s my weekly lists of likes and dislikes following Carolina’s 28-19 win over Atlanta, which pushed the Panthers to 4-5.

1. Jake Delhomme was mistake-free. For the third straight game, the Panthers’ embattled QB didn’t throw an interception. In fact, the Panthers didn’t have a turnover all day.

2. The wide receivers showed up. Muhsin Muhammad finally looked young again after a dismal first half of the season, catching six passes for 91 yards. Steve Smith only had four catches for 34 yards, but two of those were 4-yard TDs in close quarters for touchdowns.

3. Jason Baker’s tackle. Smith joked later he would have run over Baker had he tried to tackle him that way, but the Panthers' punter went high and shoved Atlanta kick returner Eric Weems forcibly out of bounds to save a possible TD late in the fourth quarter.

4. Defensive sticky fingers. The Panthers often seem to drop interceptions, but Sherrod Martin and Richard Marshall held onto two big ones off Matt Ryan today. (Ryan, incidentally, is now up to 12 pickoffs for the year; Delhomme has 13).

5. Double Trouble. Both DeAngelo Williams (92 yards) and Stewart (82 yards, two TDs) had big days. Williams, who was questionable to even play, added a 30-yard reception.

2 things I didn’t like

1. Jordan Gross’s injury. Gross has a broken ankle. Although coach John Fox wouldn’t say what that meant postgame, I will – Gross almost surely is done for the year.

2. Michael Turner turning it on. One of the Panthers’ luckiest breaks in this game came the way you never want it to – when Turner left the game late in the second quarter with a severe ankle sprain. Turner already had 111 yards in only nine carries at that point. When he left, a substantial part of Atlanta’s offense left with him.

But that's how it goes in the NFL -- you play with what you have. On Sunday, the Panthers made the bigger plays, stayed nearly mistake-free and got a big one.

Panthers win 28-19 over Atlanta

2009-11-15T15:53:00.002-05:00

Carolina just clinched a 9-point victory over Atlanta by stopping the Falcons quickly on defense and running out the clock following Jonathan Stewart's 45-yard TD run.

The Panthers' 28-19 win improves Carolina's record to 4-5. The Panthers will have a chance to even that mark Thursday night, when they face Miami.

It was virtually a mistake-free game for the Carolina offense, which didn't turn the ball over. For the third straight game, Jake Delhomme didn't throw an interception.

The Panthers' defense came up with a couple of key interceptions of Atlanta's Matt Ryan -- by Sherrod Martin and Richard Marshall -- and that made the difference.

"Double Trouble" was huge in this one -- DeAngelo Williams and Stewart both ran for more than 80 yards. And the Panthers caught a break when Atlanta's powerhouse RB Michael Turner missed the entire second half with a severe ankle sprain -- he had rushed for 111 yards in the first, and the Falcons' offense was not the same without him.

I'll have my "5 Things I Liked About the Win" post coming in about an hour or so. This was a big one for the Panthers, who have now won four of their past six and are creeping back a little in the NFC.

Panthers 28-19 as Stewart goes 45 for TD

2009-11-15T15:47:00.003-05:00

The Panthers may have just cemented this one with a 45-yard TD from Jonathan Stewart -- the longest rush of his career.

It was shaky a moment before. Carolina led only 21-19 and Atlanta had the ball at midfield with four minutes left. But Matt Ryan overthrew a receiver -- he's the QB with pickoff problems today, not Jake Delhomme -- and Richard Marshall intercepted it and ran it back to the Carolina 49.

The Panthers then needed at least to make a first down to seal the game. They did better than that, with Stewart's run on third down giving Carolina the 9-point lead.

Still 21-19 as Jason Elam misses a FG

2009-11-15T15:37:00.002-05:00

The Panthers still are clinging to a 21-19 lead with 6:35 left, thanks in large part to Atlanta kicker Jason Elam.

Elam had a 34-yard field goal lined up that would have given Atlanta a 22-21 lead just a few minutes ago. That's a field goal NFL kickers make around 90 percent of the time.

Instead, Elam stutter-stepped before he got going as he awaited the ball to be snapped, then yanked the kick left. Elam and his holder had a bad miscommunication during this sequence and had a long conversation afterward.

Still, though, Carolina is in danger. The Panthers haven't scored a point in the second half, their defense has been shaky and they are about to get the ball back -- Carolina just went 3-and-out with 4:30 to go.

21-19 Panthers early in 4th

2009-11-15T15:16:00.002-05:00

Atlanta has sliced into Carolina's lead again -- it's now 21-19 early in the fourth quarter.

The Falcons drove 59 yards in 11 plays, ending the drive with a fourth-down, 3-yard TD reception by Justin Peelle from Matt Ryan.

Ryan has played better in the second half so far and Jake Delhomme has cooled off -- the Panthers are scoreless so far in the half. Carolina did have a 51-yard field goal try from John Kasay, but that was blocked.

After scoring the TD on fourth-and-1 from the 3, the Falcons went for 2 to tie the game. But Ryan couldn't find anyone in the end zone, dumped the ball off to RB Jason Snelling and saw him tackled at the 5 by Carolina's Chris Gamble.

So that was something of a moral victory for Carolina, and the Panthers still lead -- but barely.

Atlanta FG cuts Panther lead to 21-13

2009-11-15T14:49:00.002-05:00

Atlanta took the opening drive of the second half and rolled to a 74-yard drive. But on third-and-4 from the Carolina 6, Richard Marshall put some excellent coverage on Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez and stopped the march.

Marshall, in fact, should have intercepted the ball -- it hit him right in the hands. But give him credit for the pass deflection. It forced Atlanta into a 24-yard field goal by Jason Elam, which sliced Carolina's lead to 21-13.

Steve Smith, who had a bruised rib at the end of the first half, is in the huddle for the Panthers' opening drive of the second half and looks to be OK. Smith has caught all four balls thrown at him in this game for 34 yards and two TDs, doubling his TD total from the first 8 games of the season.

21-10 at the half, Carolina

2009-11-15T14:35:00.002-05:00

The Panthers finished up a fine first half by scoring a third TD -- this one set up by rookie Sherrod Martin's third interception of the season. That gives Carolina a 21-10 lead at halftime -- Steve Smith already has two 4-yard TD receptions from Jake Delhomme today.

Carolina, however, has also suffered two major injuries. On Smith's second TD catch, he bruised some ribs. His return is questionable. And Pro Bowl LT Jordan Gross is done at least for this game and possibly for a lot longer (maybe even the season).

Gross hurt his right ankle on a block. Badly, it looked like. They put an immobilizing device on Gross on the field and then carted him off, and that combo usually means something is broken.

As for positive news, Jake has a 147.0 QB rating at halftime (11-14-137, 2 TDs, zero interceptions).

Atlanta cuts Panther lead to 14-10

2009-11-15T13:56:00.002-05:00

Atlanta just sliced Carolina's lead to 14-10 with a 14-play, 80-yard drive -- the third 80-yard TD drive of this game (Carolina has the other two).

The Falcons took a big gamble and had it pay off -- with the aid of an official's flag. On fourth-and-8 from the Carolina 37, Atlanta coach Mike Smith decided to go for it. Ryan threw an incomplete slant pass to Roddy White, who was covered tightly by Chris Gamble. After the ball went incomplete, a late flag came sailing in -- interference on Gamble.

From there, Atlanta marched down to the 1, getting a key third-down conversion on another pass to White. On third-and-goal from the 1, Ryan pitched wide to Jason Snelling for the TD.

That made it 14-10, Carolina. Michael Turner missed the last part of the drive for Atlanta -- team trainers appear to be working on Turner's ankle on the sideline. Turner already has 111 yards in only nine carries.

14-3 as Smith scores

2009-11-15T13:43:00.002-05:00

Jake Delhomme has continued to play very well in the first half so far. He just led his second 80-yard TD drive of the game, this one finished off with a 4-yard TD pass to Steve Smith with 12:26 to go in the second quarter.

It was only the second TD pass Delhomme has thrown this season to a wide receiver. Smith, who has caught both of those, was interfered with on the play but caught the ball anyway.

So far, everything is clicking for the Panthers. Then again, remember that Carolina was up by 14 on New Orleans last Sunday as well. Ain't over yet, by a long shot, but a great start for the Panthers.

Panthers up 7-3 as Jake hot early

2009-11-15T13:22:00.003-05:00

Panthers QB Jake Delhomme threw for 308 yards against Atlanta in September, and he just led an excellent 80-yard drive to put Carolina up 7-3 midway through the first quarter.

Delhomme threw two passes for 43 yards to Muhsin Muhammad on the drive, as well as one to Steve Smith for 19 and another to tight end Jeff King for 13 that picked up a key third down. Carolina went no-huddle for the entire drive after going 3-and-out with a slower pace on its first possession. Jonathan Stewart finished it off with a 1-yard TD, which earned a big Jake fist pump.

Atlanta scored a field goal on its first drive, mainly because RB Michael Turner broke off a 40-yard run to set it up. Julius Peppers is playing sparingly because of his messed-up right hand, which is heavily bandaged. Peppers looks like he's going to be used mostly as a situational pass rusher today -- he only played one snap on Atlanta's first possession.

A Panther defense totally without Thomas Davis and largely without Peppers? That's a vulnerable D.

Prediction: Panthers will win

2009-11-13T09:46:00.007-05:00

A few pregame thoughts on the Falcons-Panthers game:

-- Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan is going through a bit of a sophomore slump. After throwing only 11 interceptions in his rookie season of 2008, he already has 10 this year. If the Panthers’ defense can get Ryan into some third-and-long situations, he’s apt to make a couple of poor decisions Sunday.

-- Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme threw for 308 yards against the Falcons the last time out in September, so I expect coach John Fox will at least loosen the handcuffs a little on the Panthers’ most-discussed player. But Fox also knows that in Carolina’s three wins this season Delhomme has thrown only 25, 17 and 14 times, so the third-and-12 draw play will still be very much in use.

-- I like this fact for some reason and am not sure why: The Falcons decided to bus to Charlotte for this game rather than fly like they have always done in the past.

-- Atlanta is only 1-3 on the road in 2009 and the Panthers played them relatively well in September before losing, 28-20. In that game, Panther defensive end Julius Peppers was single-teamed on almost every pass play and was no factor, getting neutralized by Atlanta tackle Tyson Clabo virtually every time. Peppers has played extremely well for most of the past five weeks, however, and it will be interesting to see if the Falcons gamble by single-teaming him again today.

-- Atlanta (5-3) is a slight favorite, but for some reason I think the Panthers (3-5) are going to get this one.

My prediction: Carolina 23, Atlanta 22.

Stat update: I'm 5-3 picking the Panthers' games so far in 2009. After a two-game slump, I did a little better last week, picking Carolina to lose by 10 (34-24) to New Orleans in a game they ultimately did lose by 10 (30-20).

Note: I'll be blogging during and after the game Sunday, so check back in here Sunday sometime and post your comments on the game, too.