Panthers hand Redskins stinging defeat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Jake Delhomme got up, his shoulder pads sticking out and his chin strap bunched around his mouth. He pumped both fists and yelled, letting out a month of frustration.

His eighth interception of the season earlier in the day? Forgotten. Carolina's winless start was over, too.

Delhomme's bold bootleg run for a first down on third-and-8 and an earlier disputed call helped the Panthers rally past the Redskins 20-17 yesterday, a day of vindication for Delhomme and more trouble for embattled Washington coach Jim Zorn.

"Anything that could have gone wrong the first month or so has gone wrong," Delhomme said. "We'll take it any way we can get it."

The Panthers (1-3) scored the game's final 18 points, with Jonathan Stewart's 8-yard run with 9:21 left the go-ahead touchdown after a bizarre fumbled punt gave the Panthers the ball at the Washington 12.

"You talk about a monkey on your back, this was a gorilla," coach John Fox said.

Delhomme, who entered with 15 turnovers in his last 15 quarters, suggested it was more like a colony of gorillas, perhaps the weight Zorn is feeling after the Redskins' latest meltdown.

Leading 17-12, Washington (2-3) forced a punt with just over 10 minutes left. Carolina's Quinton Teal blocked Washington's Byron Westbrook into returner Antwaan Randle El, which was ruled a legal play because Randle El had moved forward due to the short punt. The ball bounced off Westbrook's foot and Carolina's Dante Wesley pounced on the ball.

The officials initially awarded the ball to Washington. They then determined the ball hit Westbrook first and gave it to Carolina, a call upheld after Washington challenged.

"The Washington guy got blocked into his own man, so there was no interference," referee Walt Coleman said.

Stewart's TD two plays later gave Carolina its first lead. Delhomme then connected with Steve Smith on a 2-point conversion.

The Panthers' defense, led by Thomas Davis and Julius Peppers, then forced a punt. Facing third-and-8 from his 25 with 2 minutes left, Delhomme faked a handoff to Stewart and rolled right.

He lumbered to the corner and was met by DeAngelo Hall. Delhomme stiff-armed him, dragging him for the extra yard and the first down.

"I figured he might have the ball so I sprinted out a yard too short," Hall said.

It allowed Delhomme to pump his fist again before taking a knee and running out the clock. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 181 yards.

Delhomme still has only three TDs to go with eight INTs, but the Panthers feel the victory could jump-start a turnaround with games against struggling Tampa Bay and Buffalo the next two weeks.

The Redskins haven't taken advantage of their weak schedule, falling to 10-11 under Zorn. Newly hired offensive consultant Sherman Lewis watched Washington build and then cough up a 17-2 lead thanks to two drives totaling 14 yards.

DeAngelo Williams fumbled on the first play from scrimmage and Albert Haynesworth recovered. Two plays later, Jason Campbell's 10-yard pass to Clinton Portis made it 7-0.

Hall later intercepted Delhomme and raced 45 yards to the Carolina 1, and Portis' 1-yard run was his first TD rushing this season.

Kenny Moore then returned the kickoff 55 yards, leading to Delhomme's 17-yard pass to Jeff King to make it 17-9.