Righting Wrongs - Carolina sinks Washington with late rally

CHARLOTTE

Jake Delhomme got up, his shoulder pads sticking out and his chin strap bunched around his mouth. He pumped both fists and yelled, letting out a month of frustration.

His eighth interception of the season earlier in the day? Forgotten. Carolina's winless start was over, too.

Delhomme's bold bootleg run for a first down on third-and-8 and an earlier disputed call helped the Panthers rally past the Redskins 20-17 yesterday, a day of vindication for Delhomme and more trouble for embattled Coach Jim Zorn of the Redskins.

"Anything that could have gone wrong the first month or so has gone wrong," Delhomme said. "We'll take it any way we can get it."

The Panthers (1-3) scored the game's final 18 points, with Jonathan Stewart's 8-yard run with 9:21 left the go-ahead touchdown after a bizarre fumbled punt had given the Panthers the ball at the Washington 12.

"You talk about a monkey on your back, this was a gorilla," Coach John Fox said.

Delhomme, who entered with 15 turnovers in his last 15 quarters, suggested that it was more like a colony of gorillas, perhaps the weight that Zorn is feeling after the Redskins' latest meltdown.

Leading 17-12, Washington (2-3) forced a punt with just over 10 minutes left. Carolina's Quinton Teal blocked Washington's Byron Westbrook into returner Antwaan Randle El, which was ruled a legal play because Randle El had moved forward because of the short punt. The ball bounced off Westbrook's foot and Carolina's Dante Wesley pounced on the ball.

The officials initially awarded the ball to Washington. Then they determined that the ball hit Westbrook first and gave it to Carolina, a call upheld after Washington challenged.

"The Washington guy got blocked into his own man, so there was no interference," referee Walt Coleman said.

Stewart's touchdown two plays later gave Carolina its first lead. Delhomme then connected with Steve Smith on a 2-point conversion.

The Panthers' improved defense, led by Thomas Davis and Julius Peppers, then forced a punt. Facing third-and-8 from his 25 with 2 minutes left, Delhomme faked a handoff to Stewart and rolled right.

He lumbered to the corner and was met by DeAngelo Hall. Delhomme stiff-armed him, dragging him for the extra yard and the first down.

"I figured he might have the ball so I sprinted out a yard too short," Hall said.

It allowed Delhomme to pump his fist again before taking a knee and running out the clock. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 181 yards.

Delhomme still has three touchdowns to go with eight interceptions, but the Panthers said they feel that the victory could fuel a turnaround with games against struggling Tampa Bay and Buffalo the next two weeks.

The Redskins haven't taken advantage of their weak schedule, falling to 10-11 under Zorn. Sherman Lewis, the Redskins' newly hired offensive consultant, watched Washington build and then cough up a 17-2 lead thanks to two drives totaling 14 yards.

DeAngelo Williams fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Albert Haynesworth recovered. Two plays later, Jason Campbell's 10-yard pass to Clinton Portis made it 7-0.

Washington 7 3 7 0 -- 17
Carolina 0 2 7 11 -- 20

First Quarter

Was--Portis 10 pass from Campbell (Suisham kick), 13:54.

Second Quarter

Car--T.Davis safety, 8:21.

Was--FG Suisham 38, 1:45.

Third Quarter

Was--Portis 1 run (Suisham kick), 10:06.

Car--King 17 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), 8:31.

Fourth Quarter

Car--FG Kasay 43, 14:15.

Car--Stewart 8 run (Smith pass from Delhomme), 9:21.

A--73,487.

TEAM STATISTICS

Was Car

First downs 15 16

Total Net Yards 198 248

Rushes-yards 24-74 32-86
Passing 124 162

Punt Returns 3-3 3-14

Kickoff Returns 1-23 5-106

Interceptions Ret. 1-44 0-0

Comp-Att-Int 17-23-0 16-25-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 5-21 3-19

Punts 5-38.4 4-44.8

Fumbles-Lost 3-1 4-1

Penalties-Yards 4-20 5-27

Time of Possession 28:43 31:17

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Washington, Portis 19-57, Betts 2-7, Mason 1-6, Campbell 2-4. Carolina, D.Williams 18-40, Stewart 10-39, Delhomme 3-7, Hoover 1-0.

PASSING--Washington, Campbell 17-23-0-145. Carolina, Delhomme 16-25-1-181.

RECEIVING--Washington, Moss 4-44, Randle El 3-28, Davis 3-23, D.Thomas 3-19, Portis 2-17, Kelly 1-8, Betts 1-6. Carolina, Smith 5-65, Muhammad 5-39, King 2-30, D.Williams 2-19, Rosario 1-22, Stewart 1-6.

MISSED FIELD GOALS--None.