Dave’s Football Blog

So the Panthers had first and goal on the two after a Miami penalty. They give the ball to Stephen Davis once. No dice. They give the ball to Stephen Davis again. No dice.

You have to think the play action pass is coming next, right?

Well, even if the Dolphins did see it coming, they didn’t do a very good job covering Steve Smith, who caught a perfect lob from Delhomme for Carolina’s first TD of the game.

Unfortunately, on the Dolphins next drive, Gus Frerotte tossed one past Panther corner Chris Gamble yet again. His 42-yard pass to Chris Chambers was eventually ruled a touchdown on review. Gamble now has burns on about 60% of his body.

The Panthers responded to that, though, with a 9-play, 80-yard drive of their own, ending with another Delhomme TD pass to Steve Smith, who now has 7 catches for 92 yards and 2 TDs. Jake is 13-for-20 for 187 yards and those 2 TD passes to Smith. Yeah, he’s definitely looking better than last week.

Stephen Davis, however, has only 17 yards on 8 carries, and the Panthers’ pass defense is weak today without guys like Lucas and Witherspoon on the field. Those facet of Carolina’s game need to improve if this team hopes to get past the Dolphins in the second half.

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