Panthers vs. Texans 9/16 Game Thread
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:46 pm
Houston at Carolina
Sunday, September 16, 1:00 PM EST
Bank of America Stadium
Preview
A pair of teams sporting three-game winning streaks meet Sunday when the Houston Texans (1-0) play the Carolina Panthers (1-0) in their first visit to Bank of America Stadium at 1:00 p.m. EST. Neither team made the postseason a year ago but may have laid the foundation for a successful opening to this season by winning their last two games of 2006.
The Panthers followed up season-ending wins over Atlanta and New Orleans last December with a 27-13 victory at St. Louis to being the 2007 campaign, while the Texans were even more impressive in shutting down Kansas City, 20-3, to open the season. The win was the 50th for Carolina head coach John Fox, and he used a formula that included the familiar names of Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith, DeShaun Foster, Julius Peppers and Kris Jenkins.
Delhomme compiled a 125.7 quarterback rating in completing 18-of-27 attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Not surprisingly, one of those touchdown passes went to Steve Smith, who had seven catches for 118 yards in addition to drawing a 29-yard pass interference penalty. It was Smith's 19th career regular season game with 100 or more yards receiving for the Panthers, and the yardage total enabled him to exceed 5,000 career receiving yards.
Foster also achieved a milestone of his own when he surpassed Tshimanga Biakabutuka as the team's career rushing leader. Foster gained 94 yards on 17 attempts and to become the franchise's all-time leading rusher with 621 attempts and 2,554 yards.
Peppers did not add to his club record career sack total of 53.5 but recovered a fumble that set up Carolina's go-ahead score in the third quarter. His Pro Bowl teammate, Jenkins, helped limit Stephen Jackson to just 58 yards rushing on 18 attempts.
Along with the familiar faces, a number of the 18 newcomers on the Panthers roster also played significant role. New safeties, Chris Harris and Deke Cooper, both forced fumbles as Carolina played its first game since Week Three of the 2001 season without Mike Minter in the starting lineup. Rookie Jon Beason started his first NFL game at outside linebacker, but it was another rookie, guard Ryan Kalil, who helped the Panthers bulldoze to 186 yards rushing. It was not only Kalil's first NFL start but his first-ever game at guard after playing his entire college career at center for Southern California.
Overall, the offensive line, playing its first game under Dave Magazu, who had previously coached the tight ends, did not allow a sack and helped the Panthers to their highest rushing total ever in an opening game. Only one member, Jordan Gross, of the unit that finished last season started in the season opener, and he switched from left tackle to right tackle. Returning to left tackle was Travelle Wharton, one of three players the Panthers lost for the season in the opening week a year ago. Joining Wharton in their returns were center Justin Hartwig and linebacker Dan Morgan.
"Like most wins in the NFL, it was a great team effort," said head coach John Fox. "We are going to need a similar effort this week against a good, young team that is playing with a lot of confidence after their opening day win."
On The Air
Carolina will appear on the CBS Television Network in HD with the announcing team of play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson and game-analyst Steve Tasker.
The Panthers can be heard throughout the Carolinas on flagship station WBT and on the Panthers Radio Network. Mick Mixon provides the play-by-play with game analysis from former 16-year NFL veteran safety Eugene Robinson. WBT Sports Director Jim Szoke serves as the color commentator and Sharon Thorsland contributes as the sideline reporter.
