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Dolphins end Panthers' playoff hopes in 24-17 win
Photo by James Nix
Carolina's Steve Smith is brought down by Miami's Gibril Wilson Thursday, Nov. 19 2009 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The Dolphins won 24-17.
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Published: November 20, 2009
CHARLOTTE - Ricky Williams had a big night.
The veteran running back for the Miami Dolphins had three touchdowns to carry the Dolphins over the Carolina Panthers, 24-17.
Williams reached a career milestone in the first half -- a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
The win pushes Miami to an even record of 5-5 for the season and sends Carolina down to 4-6, short of a .500 record, and effectively out of the playoffs. It also left Carolina winless in the four-game series with Miami.
Early in the game, the Panthers offensive line was weak in its protection of quarterback Jake Delhomme, as Miami made 3 sacks for 19 yards.
"We settled down and were able to protect a little better," Panthers Coach John Fox said. "Unfortunately, we came up a little short."
Miami dominated the first half, with running back Ricky Williams scoring two touchdowns for the Dolphins in the second quarter. He rushed 14 yards on a pass completion for a touchdown to put the Dolphins on the board. Then on the next series, Williams scored again on a direct-snap play.
On the opening drive, Carolina marched the ball down the field, but Miami's defense halted the advance at the goal, forcing kicker John Kasay to kick a field goal. Miami would hold Carolina to a field goal until the fourth quarter, when Kasay was called back out to put another one through the uprights.
It wasn't until late in the fourth that Delhomme connected in the end zone, this time with wide receiver Steve Smith, who ended up with seven receptions for 87 yards for the game.
Delhomme went for the two-point conversion on the touchdown, sending running back DeAngelo Williams over the scrum and into the end zone. The Panthers brought the game within three points, 17-14.
But Miami's Ricky Williams would not be stopped. He ran 46 yards in the next series for a touchdown, taking Miami further away from Carolina, 24-17.
Another Kasay field goal gave the Panthers three more points, 24-17, and Delhomme made one last push in the last minute in the game. Moving the ball down the field with first down after first down, he was forced to spike the ball with six seconds left on the clock.
In a last ditch effort from the Dolphins' 26-yard line, Delhomme let loose a Hail Mary pass into the end zone, but was batted away by Miami.
In the end, Fox said, while both teams played hard, it came down to opportunities.
"On their opportunities, they scored touchdowns and on our opportunities, we scored field goals," Fox said. "We still got a lot of football left, but I'm disappointed for them."
The Panthers head to the Meadowlands next Sunday to face the New York Jets.
Contact Web reporter Ben McNeely: 704-789-9131
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