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Delhomme, Carolina Take Another Unlikely Victory

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 15, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C - The latest jarring hit by the Chicago Bears left Jake Delhomme holding his head and the Carolina Panthers staring at yet another home flop.

As Delhomme wobbled to the sideline with the Panthers trailing by two touchdowns in the third quarter Sunday, ex-Bear Chris Harris was fed up.

"I gathered everybody up and told them, 'Hey, we aren't going to take that,'" the safety said.

They didn't. Harris, Delhomme and rookie running back Jonathan Stewart led a stirring comeback for a 20-17 win that gave the Panthers an unlikely 2-0 start.

Harris forced a fumble on the next possession that led the first of Stewart's two touchdown runs, the second of which was the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter.

"I felt it should have been a penalty but it wasn't," Harris said of Lance Briggs' shoulder-to-helmet hit as Delhomme began to slide following a scramble in the middle of the field. "I told them we're not taking it. It turned into more than a game at that. Guys were upset. After that we got after it."

After going 7-9 without Delhomme last season, the Panthers stunned San Diego last week with Delhomme's touchdown pass on the final play. But for more than a half Carolina looked like the 2007 edition that went 2-6 at home.

Then, just as the Panthers looked intent on extending a streak of four straight losses in home openers, Briggs' hit completely changed the game.

Suddenly Carolina's defense made big plays, including a fourth-down stop with under 2 minutes left to seal the win, as Delhomme shook off the effects of the hit to make it 2-for-2 in fourth-quarter comebacks following reconstructive elbow surgery.

And they did it without their three-time Pro Bowl receiver. Steve Smith's suspension for sucker-punching teammate Ken Lucas in training camp ends today.

"I'm excited to have our rocket back," said Delhomme, who threw for 128 yards. "It's great to be 2-0."

The Bears couldn't build off last week's impressive win in Indianapolis, despite 92 yards rushing from rookie Matt Forte. Kyle Orton didn't have a turnover for a second straight game, but passed for only 149 yards and consistently overthrew receivers.

Tight end Greg Olsen lost two fumbles and kick returner Devin Hester was sidelined with an apparent rib injury in the third quarter.

Chicago's chances ended when Na'il Diggs, Julius Peppers and Damione Lewis combined to stop Jason McKie on fourth-and-1 from midfield.

"A disappointing loss," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "Whenever you have control of the football game like that, you've got to be able to finish."

The Bears will host Tampa Bay next Sunday at 1 p.m.

Chi-Lloyd 9 blocked punt return (Gould kick), 13:00.

Second Quarter

Chi-FG Gould 26, 9:09.

Car-FG Kasay 37, :12.

Third Quarter

Chi-McKie 1 run (Gould kick), 9:23.

Car-FG Kasay 45, 5:23.

Car-Stewart 4 run (Kasay kick), 2:18.

Fourth Quarter

Car-Stewart 1 run (Kasay kick), 3:52.

A-73,828

RUSHING-Chicago, Forte 23-92, R.Davis 1-17, McKie 3-7, Jones 1-0, Orton 1-(minus 1). Carolina, Stewart 14-77, Williams 11-31, Hoover 1-5, Delhomme 4-3, Goings 1-(minus 2).

PASSING-Chicago, Orton 19-32-0-149. Carolina, Delhomme 12-21-1-128.

RECEIVING-Chicago, Lloyd 5-66, Forte 3-21, R.Davis 3-11, Clark 2-21, McKie 2-13, Olsen 2-7, Hester 1-6, Booker 1-4. Carolina, Muhammad 5-59, King 2-29, Hoover 2-18, Hackett 1-22, Rosario 1-6, Williams 1-(minus 6).

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