It only took two seconds to silence the crowd at Qualcomm Stadium.
With just two ticks on the clock, Jake Delhomme bobbled a shotgun snap, scrambled, pumped once, and then fired the shot heard around San Diego.
Dante Rosario's leaping catch in the back of the end zone capped off a last-minute comeback for the Carolina Panthers.
For the first three-and-a-half quarters, the San Diego Chargers, a team most say will be in the Super Bowl this year, just couldn't seem to break out against the Panthers.
Leading 3-0, Carolina seemed to have a defensive hold on L.T. and Phillip Rivers.
A 16-yard pass to Gates was challenged by Carolina because River's seemed to have passed the line of scrimmage.
The challenge was overturned by a questionable referee decision. Replays show that Rivers' foot was in fact on the line before he threw the ball, but the referee said his whole body was not over the line, therefore the ruling on the field stood.
San Diego would score on the very next play.
Later in the game, a Delhomme completion was called back, again, by a questionable decision of the referee.
Carolina was penalized for the right tackle not being on the line of scrimmage. Again, replay's show his head and body were in fact on the line of scrimmage, but his right leg was extended too far behind him, therefore resulting in a penalty.
Maybe he was just emulating his dog and getting ready to mark some territory.
The leg of John Kasey, and a defensive touchdown, kept the Panthers ahead 19-10 well into the fourth quarter.
Maybe John Fox figured his defense would continue to control San Diego, but it wasn't going to happen.
San Diego would scored 14 points in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter.
The final touchdown resulted from a D.J. Hackett fumble.
Down 24-19 with 2:15 to go, Carolina begin an aerial attack on San Diego's defense, culminating in San Diego's end zone.
Carolina, even without their primary receiver Steve Smith, showed that they are a force to be reckoned with.
A football game is 60 minutes. John Fox has weapons on both sides of the ball, but they MUST play the whole game.
Year after year, week after week, Carolina is faced with last minute, come-from-behind decisions. A continued steady diet of this will not take you to the playoff's, let alone a Super Bowl.
John Fox must figure out how to get his team to play the whole game on both sides of the ball. Until he does that, sure, it will exciting, as it was in San Diego, but the result will not always be as favorable.
Of course, as always, it's just my opinion.
4 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
L.J. Burgess 10 months ago
Excellent editorial instead of a run of the mill re-cap. Very nice.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 10 months ago
David, good take on the game - like you're branching out!
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S M Napier 10 months ago
Nice recap, David. Ain't Gamble something, the guy along with "Peanut" are the best in the NFC. Have to watch the shortened game of the week replays on NFL Network, after I get home from work. Sure the game will be one of the selections.
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Adam Amick 10 months ago
Good piece.
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