What a way to start off the season!  In a thrilling upset, the Carolina Panthers topped the San Diego Chargers on the final play of the game, on a twelve yard, Jake Delhomme touchdown pass to Daunte Rosario, I’m still in shock.

Talk about a story book way to kick off the season.  10 minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, the Panthers had just secured a nine point lead, but the Chargers were rallying.  On back-to-back drives, the Chargers were able to score touchdowns, one aided on a D. J. Hackett turnover, and lead the Panthers 24-19.  With 2:27 on the clock, Jake Delhomme got the ball on the 32 with only one timeout, and without his stat wideout Steve Smith, needing a touchdown to take the lead.

Delhomme never faltered, leading the Panthers all the way down to the Charger red zone with the clock ticking away.  At this point, Delhomme threw a six yard pass to running back Nick goings, which kept the clock moving, and he didn’t take a timeout.  I was screaming at the television because he wasted 16 seconds, and even though it worked out in the end, it was a stupid decision. But the Panthers were able to get the ball to the 13 yard line with two seconds left and call a timeout.  On the final play of the game, Delhomme was then able to pump, and thread the needle to Daunte Rosario for the winning touchdown as time expired.

Jake Delhomme showed how much he means to this team on that drive, with his leadership, his performance under pressure, and of course his ability to win games.  That was by far one of the best games overal the Panthers have played in quite a while.

That game, unlike any the Panthers have played in almost two seasons, reminded me of one thing: the Panthers 2003 Super Bowl run.  I don’t know how many times I thought that game was won or lost, just like in a number of those close games they played in 2003.  Jake Delhomme is back.  The Magic is back.

John Fox wanted to get back to that physical, control-the-line-of-scrimmage type of football, and that’s exactly how the Panthers played.  The new offensive line was able to open up some very nice running lanes for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, along with only allowing one sack against a very good Chargers pass rush.  There were a couple of injury scares from Jeff Otah and Travelle Wharton, but nothing serious. I know I’m being a little picky, but Jeff Davidson did get away from the run in the third quarter, and had a few short drives, as well as settling for field goals instead of touchdowns, but overall it was an impressive performance.

With the holes this line opened up against San Diego, and the way the Panthers were able to move the ball, it’s exciting to think what the offense will be like when they get Steve Smith back and have a down field threat.

Defensively the Panthers looked equally as good.  For much of the first half the defense was able to contain one of the best running backs in the league, LaDanian Tomlinson, and get pressure on Philip Rivers.  Even though Julius Peppers didn’t record a sack, he presence was felt, not to mention that San Diego has a very good offensive line. There were some plays given up, and those two touchdowns late the fourth quarter weren’t ideal, be the fact is that the Panthers were playing against a very potent San Diego offense, and they delivered.

As Jake Delhomme said, hopefully the Panthers can use this game as a “springboard” to help launch them through the rest of the season.  All I know is this, Carolina showed in that game that they can play witht the big boys, and are a force to be reckoned with.

Tags: chargers, Jake Delhomme, panthers