Carolina Takes it to the Cardinals
24 fourth quarter points leads to 45-6 blowout win for Carolina
Phoenix, AZ (AP) - The Carolina Panthers (7-6) stayed alive in the NFC Wild Card race today as they faced off against the Arizona Cardinals (1-12), who most consider to be the worst team in the National Football League.
Two defensive touchdowns and three Arizona Cardinals turnovers in the fourth quarter turned a 21-6 third quarter lead for Carolina into a 45-6 blowout win.
"We took advantage of their mistakes and it paid off quite well," explained Carolina head coach James Frizzell.
Carolina reeled off 428 yards of total offense, including 289 passing yards as Frizzell unleashed Jake Delhomme as he passed the ball 55 times, completing 34 of them for 318 yards, four touchdowns, and two first half picks.
"We wanted to get this team some more balance and it paid off. We still got the ball to Stephen [Davis] 27 times, so we didn't neglect the running game, but we have a pretty good quarterback in Jake Delhomme and we intend to use him," explained offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson. "We usually go to the run first, but we've been stopped over the last few ball games, so we thought we'd mix it up."
Stephen Davis led the team with 99 yards rushing on 27 carries while Ricky Proehl led the team in receiving as the veteran possession receiver grabbed 10 catches for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Steve Smith caught Delhomme's other two touchdown passes.
CAROLINA - 45
ARIZONA - 6
CAROLINA LEADERS
QB Jake Delhomme - 34/55, 318 Yds, 4 TD, 2 Int, 4 Car, 30 Yds
HB Stephen Davis - 27 Car, 99 Yds, 6 Rec, 55 Yds
WR Ricky Proehl - 10 Rec, 81 Yds, 2 TD
WR Muhsin Muhammad - 5 Rec, 64 Yds
WR Steve Smith - 4 Rec, 49 Yds, 2 TD
LB Dan Morgan - 6 Tkl, 2 TFL
LB Will Witherspoon - 6 Tkl, 2 TFL
DE Julius Peppers - 5 Tkl, 4 Sck
LB Mark Fields - 5 Tkl, TFL, 2 Sck, 2 Int
NFC SOUTH STANDINGS
1. Tampa Bay (11-3)
2. Atlanta (10-4)
3. Carolina (8-6)
4. New Orleans (4-10)
24 fourth quarter points leads to 45-6 blowout win for Carolina
Phoenix, AZ (AP) - The Carolina Panthers (7-6) stayed alive in the NFC Wild Card race today as they faced off against the Arizona Cardinals (1-12), who most consider to be the worst team in the National Football League.
Two defensive touchdowns and three Arizona Cardinals turnovers in the fourth quarter turned a 21-6 third quarter lead for Carolina into a 45-6 blowout win.
"We took advantage of their mistakes and it paid off quite well," explained Carolina head coach James Frizzell.
Carolina reeled off 428 yards of total offense, including 289 passing yards as Frizzell unleashed Jake Delhomme as he passed the ball 55 times, completing 34 of them for 318 yards, four touchdowns, and two first half picks.
"We wanted to get this team some more balance and it paid off. We still got the ball to Stephen [Davis] 27 times, so we didn't neglect the running game, but we have a pretty good quarterback in Jake Delhomme and we intend to use him," explained offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson. "We usually go to the run first, but we've been stopped over the last few ball games, so we thought we'd mix it up."
Stephen Davis led the team with 99 yards rushing on 27 carries while Ricky Proehl led the team in receiving as the veteran possession receiver grabbed 10 catches for 81 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Steve Smith caught Delhomme's other two touchdown passes.
CAROLINA - 45
ARIZONA - 6
CAROLINA LEADERS
QB Jake Delhomme - 34/55, 318 Yds, 4 TD, 2 Int, 4 Car, 30 Yds
HB Stephen Davis - 27 Car, 99 Yds, 6 Rec, 55 Yds
WR Ricky Proehl - 10 Rec, 81 Yds, 2 TD
WR Muhsin Muhammad - 5 Rec, 64 Yds
WR Steve Smith - 4 Rec, 49 Yds, 2 TD
LB Dan Morgan - 6 Tkl, 2 TFL
LB Will Witherspoon - 6 Tkl, 2 TFL
DE Julius Peppers - 5 Tkl, 4 Sck
LB Mark Fields - 5 Tkl, TFL, 2 Sck, 2 Int
NFC SOUTH STANDINGS
1. Tampa Bay (11-3)
2. Atlanta (10-4)
3. Carolina (8-6)
4. New Orleans (4-10)
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