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October 27, 2003
Panthers work OT
Key defensive plays, Davis' strong running set up Kasay's game-winning field goal
By Joe Menzer | JOURNAL REPORTER
The Carolina Panthers appear to have developed a no-fail method for winning on the road - one that was not put into play during most of the first decade they were in business.
Keep it close, continue handing the ball off to running back Stephen Davis - and have place-kicker John Kasay win it in overtime.
The Panthers used the formula for the third time this season yesterday, beating the New Orleans Saints 23-20 in overtime in front of a crowd of 68,370 at the Louisiana Superdome.
It was the third straight overtime win on the road for the Panthers, who improved to 6-1. The Saints, who fell to 3-5, were dealt a severe blow in the NFC South divisional race.
Davis established a franchise record with 178 yards rushing on 31 carries, and he also scored two touchdowns. But he saved his most impressive run for last, rumbling 34 yards to the New Orleans 11-yard line to set up the game-winning 31-yard field goal by Kasay with 10:24 left in the overtime.
"I just kept doing what I get paid to do," Davis said.
It was an impressive way for the Panthers to rebound from their only loss of the season, a 37-17 beating by the Tennessee Titans at home a week ago. In that game, the Panthers fell behind 27-3 and were forced to try to throw the ball to catch up.
Coach John Fox of the Panthers said that his team was determined not to fall into that trap again yesterday. It wouldn't have fit the winning formula.
"We had one game this year where we got taken out of that (plan) and fell behind too far. Today that was the game plan: to give them a heavy dose of Stephen. He started fast and finished fast," Fox said.
Indeed, he did.
In a game made up of a great many big plays, Davis made the majority of them for the Carolina offense. He carried the ball 12 times for 82 yards in the first quarter alone and had rushed for 108 on 18 carries by halftime.
Guard Kevin Donnalley of the Panthers said that yesterday's winning approach certainly started and ended with handing the ball off to Davis, but that there was much in between that also contributed to it.
"Stephen is about our only superstar on this team," Donnalley said. "We're getting it done with just blue-collar kind of workmanship. That's our type of approach. We don't have anybody really taking over the games except for him.
"Everybody else is just trying to play their roles. We just play good, solid defense, we're great on special teams - and then we just try to hammer teams with him on offense. You keep it close on the road playing like that, and you're going to be able to pull out some wins like this."
The good, solid defense came into play on several occasions for the Panthers yesterday. The Saints were leading 17-13 and driving for what could have been a game-clinching score when linebacker Will Witherspoon of the Panthers intercepted Aaron Brooks of the Saints at the Carolina 7-yard line late in the third quarter.
The Panthers eventually took a 20-17 lead - their first since they were up 3-0 in the first quarter - when Davis capped a 58-yard drive with a 1-yard run for his second touchdown of the game with 3:50 left in regulation.
But the Saints drove down the field on their ensuing possession to set up a 42-yard field goal by place-kicker John Carney with 41 seconds left to force overtime. Included in the Saints' scoring drive was a fourth-and-10 conversion when Brooks completed a 16-yard pass to wide receiver Jerome Pathon.
In overtime, the Panthers' defense gave Davis and Kasay their chances to win the game.
The Saints won the coin toss and almost immediately moved into position for a game-winning field-goal attempt when Michael Lewis returned Kasay's kickoff 53 yards to the Carolina 46-yard. After holding the Saints to a total of five yards on their next two plays, strong safety Mike Minter came up with the hit of the day when he stopped running back Deuce McAllister cold just short of the first-down marker on third-and-5.
The Saints elected to go for it on fourth-and-1, and this time, defensive end Julius Peppers of the Panthers made the critical hit that jolted the ball loose from McAllister. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins recovered for the Panthers, putting them in business at their own 38-yard line.
The plan from there was simple. Give the ball to Davis.
He sandwiched two runs around an 8-yard pass for to wide receiver Steve Smith - who also had a big day with nine catches for 100 yards - and then really got to work with the 34-yard run that set up Kasay's game-winner.
It rendered moot all else that had transpired earlier in the hard-fought game - including Joe Horn's two touchdown catches for the Saints, who also got 101 yards rushing from McAllister and 187 passing from Brooks. Jake Delhomme, the Panthers' starting quarterback, struggled most of the day but was plenty good enough when he needed to be on the fourth-quarter drive that put the Panthers up 20-17.
"We did what we do best, and that's running the ball," Davis said. "Then we made some plays in the passing game. We just stuck with it. That's what we're good at. During the course of a game, you're going to have some tough times, some bumps in the road, but you just stay focused and you stick with the game plan."
• Joe Menzer can be reached at jmenzer@wsjournal.com