SAN DIEGO Carolina Panthers tight end Dante Rosario knows how to quickly silence a crowd of 67,115 howling and stomping San Diego Chargers fans.

All he had to do was catch an improbable 14-yard touchdown pass from Jake Delhomme as time expired on Sunday, giving the Carolina Panthers a 26-24 victory against the Chargers in both team's NFL season opener at Qualcomm Stadium.

With two seconds remaining, Chargers fans making a tremendous din and Carolina trailing 24-19, Delhomme called a play named “74 Rocket,” one that's already gone down among the biggest in Panthers history – along with others such as Delhomme's game-winning pass to Ricky Proehl against Jacksonville in 2003 and Steve Smith's game-winner in overtime against the St. Louis Rams in that season's playoffs.

As the ball flew over the hands of Chargers defensive backs Eric Weddle and Steve Gregory – Rosario said one of them slightly tipped it – Rosario grabbed it, stunning the crowd.

Standing at the back of the end zone, Rosario (who is 6-foot-4), looked around, almost in wonder at what had happened. He held the ball high, then turned and sprinted off in celebration.

By that time, most of the Panthers had flooded the end zone, looking for him.

“When I caught the ball, I looked down to make sure I was in the end zone,” Rosario said. “The crowd behind me was kind of dead, but then a whole stampede of my guys tackled me.

“I was more tired from guys beating up on me on the wall than I was on the whole drive.”

Said offensive tackle Jordan Gross: “I went down there and tried to tackle him. But he stayed up and then I got run over by people.”

Rosario's catch wasn't his only contribution Sunday. He led the Panthers with seven receptions for 96 yards. The entirety of game he played – not to mention his clutch game-winner – might be a hint of what's to come for him.

Rosario, the team's fifth-round draft pick in 2007, has the potential to become the Panthers' most skilled receiver at tight end since Wesley Walls played the position in 1996-2002.

As a rookie last season, he caught a 54-yard touchdown pass in a victory against the Seattle Seahawks. Although he's not as skilled a blocker as starter Jeff King, Rosario's athleticism will continue to help stretch the field for the Panthers – especially with receiver Steve Smith suspended for one more game.

As Rosario walked across the locker room to speak to a group of reporters, some of his teammates quietly chanted, “Quack, quack, quack” – a nod to his college career as an Oregon Duck.

“I think the pro game fits him better than the college game,” said Delhomme. “He's really got it.”