Muhammad, Delhomme Fire up Team

It was Dante Rosario who scored the celebrated last-minute touchdown for the Panthers at San Diego on Sunday, but some of the men behind the shadow of the final act are just as much to credit for Carolina’s huge win in their season opener against the Chargers. First up is Jake Delhomme. Panthers fans had been holding their breaths since last winter when the quarterback underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, and Sunday’s game served as one big sigh of relief for Carolina supporters, who watched in awe as Delhomme connected with Rosario in those last few precious seconds of Sunday’s game to take the win at Qualcomm Stadium. Delhomme seems to be back up and healthy, and the Panthers have that to be thankful for.

Second up is Muhsin Muhammad. The Panthers missed Moose for the last three years when he was dwelling in Chicago’s den, and it seems as if he missed the team, too. Coming back to Carolina this season, Muhammad was named captain, and he was back in full force on Sunday, catching a short pass from Delhomme in the last quarter that set up the final two-second play that won the game. With top receiver Steve Smith on hiatus while still under a two-game suspension, both Delhomme and Muhammad stepped up to the plate last week, and they deserve the credit for last week’s huge win.

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