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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Richard Williamson made all the right
moves in his first game as Carolina's offensive coordinator.
|  | | Panthers QB Steve Beuerlein got this pass off, but was sacked three times by the Seahawks. |
The struggling Panthers bolted to a 20-point halftime lead and
and got field goals of 44, 42, 22 and 29 yards from new kicker Joe
Nedney in a 26-3 victory Sunday over the Seattle Seahawks.
"Every time we needed a big play he seemed to call the perfect
play for it," tight end Kris Mangum said of the 59-year-old
Williamson, who has coached three colleges and four pro teams since
1963. "I think he brought a new attitude to our offense. Guys
didn't want to mess up for him because he doesn't accept it."
Seattle's switch at quarterback didn't go as well. Brock Huard
made his first career start in place of Jon Kitna, who had thrown
eight interceptions and been sacked 19 times in a 2-3 start.
But Huard couldn't move the Seahawks as the Panthers (2-3)
avoided a three-game losing streak at home. Seattle was limited to
209 total yards and 11 first downs as Kitna spent the game with his
arms folded on the sideline.
"I felt like coach put us in position to make plays and we
didn't do it as an offense," said Huard, who finished 19 of 34 for
172 yards. "No one did enough. That's what coach says about
looking in the mirror. No one here can look in the mirror and be
happy about a loss."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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People have been waiting for the Panthers to get their offense in gear --
and today was the day.
QB Steve Beuerlein recorded by
far his best performance of the season (26-for-39, 332 yards, two TDs). The
Panthers had been struggling in the protecting-the-QB department but did a
much better job of that today. They also got their running game going.
Seattle is trying to break in a new quarterback (Brock Huard) after coach Mike
Holmgren decided this week to bench Jon Kitna in favor of Huard.
While Huard didn't make any critical mistakes, he also didn't make any big
plays.
Seattle may have some offensive problems in the next few weeks as they work
Huard in. Huard has no experience, so it could be tough for him to be the
type of play-maker Holmgren needs. Holmgren called the move "permanent," so
he'll have to work with Huard and bring him along.
The biggest discrepancy in this game was time of possession, as Carolina
held the ball for nearly 40 minutes, which didn't give Seattle a lot of
opportunities. The Seahawks had been running the ball well this year, but
because they were behind they couldn't establish the run.
One telling stat in this game is that the Seahawks were 0-for-11 on
third-down conversions. You can't win too many football games doing that.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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Williamson moved over from wide receivers coach early in the
week when Bill Musgrave suddenly resigned following home losses to
Atlanta and Dallas.
Carolina was unable to throw downfield with much success under
Musgrave, but the offense flowed smoothly from the start under
Williamson despite the loss of leading receiver Muhsin Muhammad
early in the first quarter with a pulled left hamstring.
Steve Beuerlein benefited the most from the offensive shakeup,
going 27-for-39 for 332 yards. Tshimanga Biakabutuka, who had
fumbled four times in the last two losses, added 103 yards rushing.
"Everybody understands the emotion of what's been going on the
last few weeks here and it was nice to see the good guys win,"
Carolina coach George Seifert said.
Beuerlein had a streak of 12 straight games with a touchdown
pass snapped in last week's overtime loss to the Cowboys. But he
found Donald Hayes on a slant pattern over the middle for a 43-yard
score on Carolina's second possession.
Carolina made it 14-0 early in the second quarter as Beuerlein's
26-yard completion to Wesley Walls helped set up a 5-yard TD pass
to William Floyd, who wrestled the ball away from linebacker George
Koonce at the goal line.
Beuerlein's near perfect half -- 20 of 28 for 255 yards -- was
ruined when he was hurried by a blitz and had a pass picked off by
Chad Brown at the Seattle 7.
But after the Seahawks were unable to move the ball again,
Nedney, waived by Denver earlier this week and replacing the cut
Richie Cunningham, made his two long field goals over the final
2:05 of the half.
"Always make the best of your opportunities," said Nedney, who
came over from Denver. "It's a good way to start for me, a good
way to lift the team."
The Seahawks managed just 53 yards and one first down in the
opening 30 minutes under Huard, whose longest completion was 10
yards.
Seattle squandered an opportunity to get back in the game early
in the third.
Safety Kerry Joseph dropped what would have been an easy
interception return for a TD on Carolina's third play, and the
Seahawks failed on a fourth-and-1 at the Carolina 34 on their first
possession of the half.
Carolina then ate up about seven minutes of the clock, leading
to Nedney's third field goal and a three-TD lead.
Seattle coach Mike Holmgren has a streak of seven straight
playoff seasons -- fourth-best all-time -- but has uphill fight after
a 2-4 start in his second season in Seattle.
"We played lousy," Holmgren said. "We were outplayed in every
facet and outcoached in every facet of the football game."
Game notes
Ricky Watters started his 103rd straight game, tops among
active running backs. ... Seattle was the only team Carolina, which
entered the league in 1995, had not played until Sunday. ... The
Seahawks had scored on their first drive in four straight games,
but went three-and-out against Carolina on their opening series
Sunday. ... Seattle was the least penalized team in the NFL with 19
in five games, but was called for 12 for 80 yards Sunday.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
Seattle Clubhouse
Carolina Clubhouse
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