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GLENDALE, Ariz. Notebook
Delhomme expects to play
next week against New Orleans
Quarterback Jake Delhomme said Sunday he thinks he will be able to play next week when the Carolina Panthers play New Orleans in the Superdome.
He was taken to a hospital during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-21 victory against the Arizona Cardinals after he was driven into the ground by defensive tackle Darnell Dockett. Delhomme said he had a CT scan of his sternum.
"They hit me where it hurts," said Delhomme, whose injury was officially described as a chest contusion. "As soon as I got hit, I felt it immediately. I couldn't catch my breath and I felt like it was my sternum.
"I got the CT scan and I think everything is good."
Dockett slammed into Delhomme as he threw a short pass to fullback Brad Hoover in the third quarter. Obviously in pain, Delhomme lay on the ground for a few moments, then left the game. Backup Matt Moore finished the series for Delhomme, who returned for two more series before the pain became too much.
"My adrenaline was going," said Delhomme. "My breath came back and everything was fine. I was sitting on the sidelines and got a little chilly and felt weak for a second. They were cautious and I went to the hospital after that."
He said he had a frank discussion with team doctors.
"I'm really close to the doctors," Delhomme said. "I was telling them to be honest with me."
After the game, he returned to University of Phoenix Stadium. The first player off the field for the Panthers was Moore, who sprinted to the locker room with a game ball.
"I grabbed that one for Jake," said Moore. David Scott
Briefly
The Panthers came out of the game bruised.
In addition to Delhomme's chest injury, Hoover (ankle) and Tony Fiammetta (head) left the game in the second half.
Hoover was on crutches in the locker room after the game. He said an X-ray of his right ankle revealed no broken bones. He had missed two of the Panthers' three previous games with back spasms.
Receiver Muhsin Muhammad (knee), free safety Charles Godfrey (ankle), and tight end Dante Rosario (knee) were inactive, joined by running back Tyrell Sutton, tackle Garry Williams, guard Duke Robinson, and defensive tackle Nick Hayden. A.J. Feeley was the No. 3 (emergency) quarterback.
Steve Smith's 50-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was his first of the season, and the first for a Panthers receiver. Smith found himself open after Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie bit on a pump fake by Delhomme. But it wasn't as easy as it looked.
"That's probably the hardest catch you can possibly have, when you are wide open," said Smith, who finished with three receptions for 56 yards. "You kind of know you have to catch it. You try to fight and focus on the ball - not focus on how you should catch it or where other guys are."
Smith also had a key block in Jonathan Stewart's second touchdown run.
"People may say, 'All he's going to work hard on is his catches and stats. He's a cry baby, a whiner and a prima donna,'" Smith said. "(Blocking) is just as important sometimes. I have thrown a lot of good blocks. I feel like a lot of times they are unseen."
It was another impressive day for Julius Peppers, who had a sack, returned an interception for a touchdown, had two quarterback hurries and forced a fumble. He now has seven sacks.
"It felt good (to score)," said Peppers, who had the wind knocked out of him on one play in the first half. "It felt good because it was a big play and a momentum booster."
Rookie safety Sherrod Martin, filling in for Godfrey, had two interceptions - one more than Godfrey has in his one-plus seasons with the Panthers.
"We've got to get turnovers, that was one of our goals and we accomplished that," said Martin. "I just did what they were asking me. To hustle to the ball."
The kick return team continued to show signs of ineptitude. In the first half, Mike Goodson fielded a kick 3 yards into the end zone and came out despite being waved back by teammate Kenneth Moore. The two ran into each other as Goodson brought the ball out and was tackled at the 13.
Arizona might lead the league in long, multi-word, hyphenated names. It takes a while to type these in: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. LaRod Stephens-Howling. Brian St. Pierre.
Linebacker Jon Beason showed running-back moves after picking up what appeared to be a Larry Fitzgerald fumble in the first half. The call was reversed - Fitzgerald never had possession of the pass from Kurt Warner - and Beason's shaking and baking went unrewarded.
By the numbers
0 Turnovers for Panthers.
11 Tackles for Beason, most on the team.
94.3 Delhomme's passer rating Sunday.
56.5 His rating entering Sunday.
Quoting
"A lot of the balls that led to interceptions were tipped. It's hard to criticize Kurt." Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt on quarterback Warner's five interceptions.
"Those running backs did their thing today." Dockett on the Panthers' DeAngelo Williams and Stewart.
"That's true. It's always in the back of your mind." Panthers cornerback Dante Wesley, on avenging the Cardinals' 33-13 playoff victory against Carolina last season.
