Panthers Stun the Packers 35-31

After Georgia Tech ended it's seven game losing streak to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday nothing could upset me for the weekend. Even a last minute loss by the Panthers to the Packers would not have wiped the smile off my face. Yet my smile only got bigger because of this epic Panther tandem:

Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith

How many times have we praised this combo as the reason for victory over the past six seasons? The Panthers had no business winning that game against a Packers team that controlled every statistic in the game...except the one that counted... the score. The Panther defense did what it could in the building snowstorm, forcing early stops and preventing big plays. But they couldn't stop the dinking and dunking of the maddening West Coast offense once QB Aaron Rodgers got on track. Yet in the end the Cardiac Cats got it done yet again. More positive spin:

• RB DeAngelo Williams had his biggest fantasy day ever with 4 TD's and 72 yards rushing. All four were 1 yard plunges dispelling the notion he's not a goal line RB

• WR Steve Smith didn't score but put up 105 yards receiving, none bigger than the 54 yard game winner that put the Panthers on the one yard line. In case you missed his post game interview I was impressed. He didn't want to talk playoffs, only winning the next game and gave all the praise to his team mates. Maybe this guy finally does get it.
• QB Jake Delhomme wasn't pretty doing it but he got the job done. His 104 QB rating outshines the paltry passing numbers 12 for 17 for 177 yards and zero TD's. Jake did look good though on that bootleg for a TD in the 2^nd quarter. I didn't realize he could still run that fast!
• The Hustle Award goes to Travelle Wharton for following up a long run by RB Jonathan Stewart only to recover a fumble after he got (gasp) caught from behind. Stewart apparently caught a cramp on his way to the end zone and had the ball swatted out by a defender. Wharton avoided disaster for the Panthers with his hustle.
• DE Julius Peppers added to his sack total with 2 sacks. He also was close to being the goat as his out-of-bounds hit on Rodgers set up the Packers final TD. Honestly after it happened I wasn't pissed at all, I was like "Yeah, knock that a-hole out of the game!" It's not often you get a good lick on the QB like that and it was a borderline call in my opinion. Kudos to Rodgers for shaking it off because he got walloped.
• LB Jon Beason led the team in tackles...again with 11 and had the ‘lights out' INT to seal the victory. What was impressive about the play was it occurred 30-40 yards downfield. The guy is all over the place and a complete mad man.
• Last but not least is kick returner Mark Jones. Jones is simply playing at a high level these days. His returns set up the Panthers final two TD's as he went for 51 and 45 yards back-to-back in the 4^th quarter. I am still stunned that our return game was actually a weapon. On 4 returns he averaged 38 yards! Teams might actually start kicking away from him!!
• Update:
• How could I forget the big goal line stand at the end of the game to force a Packer FG instead of a TD. That was just as key to the win as the completion to Smith.

Check back for more analysis later!

Packers RB Brandon Jackson feels the pain of defeat...and a bruising tackle