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Buffalo exploits three INTs to defeat Panthers, 20-7
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Published: October 26, 2009
CHARLOTTE - The last time the Carolina Panthers played the Bills, it was four years ago in Buffalo and the Panthers had a much better game. Carolina held the Bills to 55 rushing yards, made four sacks and won the game 13-9, the first-ever win against Buffalo.
No such luck this time around.
The Bills came to Bank of America Stadium and exploited Carolina's erratic play to in, 20-9, despite the Panthers dominating the stats game. Carolina outran Buffalo, 425 to 167 yards, but it was the four turnovers -- three of those interceptions -- two rare missed field goals for kicker John Kasey and nine penalties for 67 yards that doomed the Panthers.
"All losses hurt," said Coach John Fox, after the game. "This one is discouraging because I thought we ran the ball well."
Despite holding a statistical advantage over the Bills throughout the game, the Panthers, led by beleaguered quarterback Jake Delhomme, let mistakes and sloppy play plague them.
"The only statistic that counts is the scoreboard," Fox said, "and we lost that one today."
Delhomme threw three interceptions in the game, bringing his season total to 13.
"I'm disappointed," Delhomme said, after the game. "There's just no excuse."
Fox didn't say if he would take Delhomme out of the starting position.
"He played the whole game," he said, "but the turnovers were critical. We have to get better as a football team."
The Panthers denfense held the Bills to 21 rushing yards in the first quarter, but it was a quick grab by Buffalo's rookie Jaruis Byrd to get the Bills into scoring range. Running back Marshawn Lynch punched it into the end zone for the Bills. With the extra point, the Bills went up 7-0 in two plays lasting only 40 seconds.
The Panthers offense lumbered into the second quarter, with kicker John Kasey missing a 42-yard field goal attempt, but the defense held the team above water, with defensive tackle Hollis Thomas tackling the Bill's in the end zone for a safety to put the Panthers on the board, 7-2 late in the second quarter.
Still, the Bills defense, combined with the Panther's on-off play action held running back Steve Smith at bay, with 43 pass receiving yards, while running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart ran for 65 and 17, respectively, in the first half.
Despite holding the ball for 22 minutes versus ths Bills' almost eight minutes passing for 154 yards versus the Bills' quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's 30 yards and pushing 13 first downs versus the Bills' three, Delhomme couldn't put points on the board before the half.
But the Carolina offense couldn't convert on third down, making only two of eight attempts in the first half.
Kasey got another try at the uprights, with 1 second to go in the first half, on a 38-yard attempt, but kicked the ball wide left. Buffalo went to the locker room leading, 7-2.
Carolina's offensive picture did not improve in the third quarter. Delhomme threw a 52-yard pass to wide receiver Kenneth Moore to get scoring position, but the Bills' defense held during a 4-and-1 conversion attempt.
Delhomme threw another interception, picked off again by Jarius Byrd, with a a minute to go in the third. Tight end Dante Rosario, who had 35 pass receiving yards in the first half, left the game in the third with a knew injury. He did not return.
Early in the fourth, a roughing-the-passer call on defensive end Tyler Brayton put the Bills at the goal line. Fitzgerald threw a two-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Lee Evans, along with the extra point, to boost the Bills, 14-2.
Bills' defensive end Chris Kelsey sacked Delhomme to end the Panthers' run, then Fitzgerald threw a 50-yard completion and put the Bills in field goal range. Kicker Rian Lindell punched in a 30-yard field goal, 17-2, Bills at about nine minutes left in the game.
But Delhomme kept hope alive with a 48-yard completion on fourth and four to Smith to take the Panthers into the red zone. Then Williams rushed 15 yards, through four attempted tackles, to give the Panthers' the first touchdown of the game. With the extra point, the Panthers went up 17-9.
Linebacker Jon Beason stopped a Bills scoring drive when he brought down wide receiver Terrell Owens. But the Panthers fumbled on punt return and Bills tight end Derek Fine recovered at Carolina's 20-yard-line.
Lynch continued to hammer away, but the Panthers' defense held him just shy of the end zone, and forced the Bills to kick a field goal at two minutes left in the game. Lindell had no problem kicking the 22-yard field goal, taking the Bills to 20-9.
Delhomme sealed the Panthers' fate, when he threw his third interception of the game to Bills' safety George Wilson, with a minute and a half left in the game.
Contact Web reporter Ben McNeely: 704-789-9131
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