Dave’s Football Blog

Lance Schulters saved the day for the Dolphins.

With the Panthers driving late, chewing up clock and getting themselves in position for a game-winning field goal, Jake Delhomme looked right — a sight that should make every Carolina fan cringe by now — and threw an interception right into the arms of Schulters, who returned it deep into Panther territory.

A few plays later, Olindo Mare kicked a game-winning 32-yard field goal with 4 seconds left. And that was that.

Give the Dolphins defense the nod in this one. They committed a few bad penalties, but they held Stephen Davis to 36 yards rushing, held Jake Delhomme to only 6 second-half completions, and kept the Panthers guessing all day.

The letdown I feared happened. Carolina is now 1-2 and needs to get its defense healthy again soon.

Meanwhile, the Steelers-Pats game has just started, and this crowd has gotten very lively. And I really want the waitresses in this place to do a swimsuit calendar…

A quick slant from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith resulted in 53-yard touchdown. Smith now has 11 catches for 170 yards and 3 TDs. Yow.

With less than 7 minutes left, Miami and Carolina are tied at 24…

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Chris Gamble intercepted a Gus Frerotte in the end zone and ended a Dolphin threat. The Panthers are driving, but most of the yards they have gained so far have come on Miami penalties.

Wait, wait… the drive just stalled.

Where the hell is Rod Gardner? Carolina needs another receiver, and Keary Colbert has been stinking up the joint so far this year.

Is anyone else surprised that the Colts have only managed 13 points at home against the Browns?

Then again, that IS Romeo Crennel on the other sideline. Perhaps that bodes well for the Colts against the Patriots…

We were all waiting for someone to make a big play this quarter. That play belonged to the Dolphins’ defense.

With 3rd and long in Panthers’ territory, Jake Delhomme dropped back to pass and was swarmed by white jerseys. The Dolphins stripped the ball away, scooped it up and gave the offense the ball with a very short field. Miami is now knocking on the door as the fourth quarter begins.

The Panthers’ running game hasn’t improved much, and it’s helping the Miami pass rush. Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor are getting really good jumps off the snap. They must have Delhomme’s cadence down. That’s not good.

The Carolina D needs to make its stand now if this team is to pull out a come-from-behind win…

Jay Fiedler’s in the game at QB for the Jets against the Jaguars. Either Chad Pennington hurt his shoulder again, or Herman Edwards finally got sick and tired of all his damn fumbling…

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.

The Vikings found their offense against the Saints. Jim Haslett has this look of fear on his face, as if he has finally realized just how long this season will be for his team.

With less than 6:00 left in the 1st half, Minnesota leads New Orleans, 17-0.

I was quite disturbed by the ease at which the Dolphins moved the ball down the field on their opening drive. Nick Saban’s offense attacked Panthers CB Chris Gamble on just about every pass, which may be a trend in this game. Ricky Manning Jr. started in place of the injured Ken Lucas at the other corner.

Thankfully, John Kasay delivered again for the Panthers when their opening stalled. Kasay has been 3-3 in field goal attempts from beyond 52 yards in the last two games.

Then after the Panthers’ D stopped the Dolphins in their own territory, Steve Smith fumbled a fair catch on the Panthers’ 20. Two plays later, Frerotte found Randy McMichael in the end zone.

This team clearly misses Will Witherspoon and Ken Lucas on defense right now. The Panthers need to staunch the bleeding right now, or this will be a BIG letdown game.

Meanwhile, the sweet tea here at Sammy’s is a little watery, but mixing the regular and chunky salsa has produced quality results. I’m debating between a burger and an individual pizza for dinner during the Steelers-Pats game…