The Panthers played mostly backups in this game but they still fought hard losing on a Jeff Reed field goal on the last play of the game.  Matt Moore got the start and he didn’t play well as he completed 15 of 27 passes for 164 yards with 2 interceptions.  Brett Basanez finished up the game completing 6 of 11 passes for 106 yards with a 29-yard TD pass.  Decori Birmingham led the Panthers in rushing in this game with 38 yards rushing on 9 carries (4.2 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 12 yards.  LaBrandon Toefield had a night to forget against the Steelers carrying the ball 13 times for 18 yards (1.4 ypc).  WR Domonique Thompson had another solid game for the Panthers catching 5 passes for 74 yards (14.8 avg).  Dwayne Jarrett also had a solid game with 6 grabs for 56 yards (9.3 avg).  The Panthers finished up with 62 yards rushing on 25 carries (2.5 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 38 passes for 261 yards in this game.

The Panthers had huge issues in this football game dealing with the Steelers’ running game.  Linebacker James Anderson led the way for the Panthers against the Steelers with 11 tackles.  Safety Nate Salley (9 tackles) and linebacker Dan Connor (8 tackles) both had solid games also.  The Steelers finished up this game with 178 yards on 44 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 11 of 23 passes for 124 yards.  The Panthers finished the preseason 2-2 but they have to be happy with what they saw.

The Carolina Panthers totally destroyed the Redskins last Saturday Night.  Jake Delhomme looked the best he has all preseason as he completed 11 of 19 passes for 159 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception.  Matt Moore finished up the game essentially handing off the football as he completed 2 of 5 passes for 33 yards.  DeAngelo Williams led the Panthers in rushing in this game with 101 yards on only 9 carries (11.2 ypc) with a 60-yard TD run.  Rookie Jonathan Stewart also had a very impressive game rushing for 100 yards on 10 carries (10.0 ypc) with a 50-yard TD run.  Steve Smith had a good game as he led the Panthers in receiving with 60 yards on 4 catches (15.0 avg) including a 33-yarder for a TD.  He also scored on a 8-yard fumble return for a TD.  TE Dante Rosario pitched in with 2 catches for 44 yards (22.0 avg) including a 24-yarder for a TD.  Dwayne Jarrett finally had a decent game in the NFL with 4 grabs for 40 yards (10.0 avg).  The Panthers rushed for 228 yards on 32 carries (7.1 ypc) and they also completed 13 of 24 passes for 174 yards.

The defense was also outstanding for the Panthers in this football game.  CB Richard Marshall led the way for the Panthers in this game with 9 tackles.  DE Julius Peppers had another outstanding game for the Panthers with 3 tackles, a sack and 2 fumble recoveries.  The Redskins finished up with only 79 yards rushing on 22 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 37 passes for 129 yards.  Too bad this game didn’t count because the Panthers looked like the best team in the NFL this night.

It’s nice to see Jake Delhomme back in action even if his numbers don’t look good because this guy is a winner.  Delhomme has only completed 9 of 15 passes (60%) for 54 yards with 0 TDs and 1 interception (39.3 QB Rating).  I wouldn’t be too concerned about his numbers in August as long as he’s ready to rock in September.  Running back DeAngelo Williams looks like he was insulted that the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart last April.  He has carried the ball 17 times for 87 yards (5.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs and he has also caught 2 passes for 13 yards (6.5 avg).  Williams clearly looks like the best running back on the Panthers right now and I always thought he was quite a bit underrated as a player.  25-year old running back DeCori Birmingham might not make the Panthers’ opening day roster but if he keeps playing like he is right now he will make some team.  Birmingham has carried the ball 18 times for 75 yards (4.2 ypc) and he has also caught 2 passes for 27 yards (13.5 avg).  25-year old WR Dominique Thompson has also made a decent impression on the Panthers as he has caught 7 passes for 57 yards (8.1 avg).  Thompson has only 1 catch for 13 yards in his NFL career so far.

The Panthers got blitzed 24-3 in the 4th quarter last night which will surely earn some players pink notices that were trying to make the team.  Jake Delhomme got his first real extended action since Tommy John Surgery last night and he passed his test completing 9 of 14 passes for 54 yards with a interception.  Matt Moore finished up the game completing 11 of 19 passes for 85 yards with a interception that was returned 74-yards for a TD by linebacker Justin Roland of the Eagles.  DeAngelo Williams had another solid game leading the Panthers with 32 yards rushing on 8 carries (4.0 ypc).  Nick Goings pitched in with 27 yards rushing on 7 carries (3.9 ypc).  Rookie Jonathan Stewart got his first action in his NFL career last night and he only carried the ball 4 times for 3 yards (0.8 ypc).  WR Dominique Thompson led the way for the Panthers last night with 2 grabs for 40 yards (20.0 avg).  The Panthers finished up with only 78 yards rushing on 27 carries (2.9 ypc) and they completed 20 of 33 passes for 134 yards.  The Panthers still have some things to work on offensively before September rolls around but it was nice to see Delhomme throwing the rock around.

Cornerback Ricardo Colclough and safety Nate Salley led the way for the Panthers with six tackles apiece last night.  CB Richard Marshall only had 1 tackle but he made the biggest play on defense last night as he intercepted a shovel pass from Eagles’ punter Sav Rocco on a fake field goal and he returned it 78 yards for a TD.  The defensive numbers look a lot worse than how the defense played as a bunch of players who will be cut played in the 4th quarter when the Panthers allowed 24 points.  The defense shut out the Eagles real players in the first three quarters of last night’s game.  The Eagles finished up with 139 yards rushing on 22 carries (6.3 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 52 passes for 247 yards.

John Fox did an outstanding job last season in finishing with a 7-9 record.  After all, he started David Carr, Vinny Testaverde and undrafted rookie Matt Moore the bulk of the season at QB after Jake Delhomme went down and needed Tommy John Surgery.  Delhomme is back this year but the Panthers will likely be more run oriented this season to take the pressure off the QB’s elbow.  Fox has compiled a 51-45 record (53.1%) during the regular season during his six years in Carolina.  He also has a 5-2 (71.4%) record in the post season which is outstanding.  If Delhomme can stay healthy and Steve Smith can be a good boy when he gets back from his suspension, expect the Panthers to get back to the playoffs in 2008.