Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

Sunday, October 26, 2008

*Smith, Panthers overcome Cardinals*

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Steve Smith scored two touchdowns, including a controversial 65-yard score, to lead the Carolina Panthers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Quarterback Jake Delhomme threw for 248 yards and two scores, including the go-ahead scoring pass to Smith, who broke a tackle and tip-toed down the sideline for a touchdown and a 24-23 lead with two seconds left in the third quarter.

Replays seemed to show Smith stepping out of bounds but the call was upheld after a challenge, keeping Carolina perfect at home in five games.

Smith's performance overshadowed a a triumphant return to the field by Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who caught Boldin caught his second touchdown pass of the game to give Arizona a 23-17 lead with just under a minute to play in the third quarter.

Arizona (4-3) was driving for a go-ahead score when Carolina came up with an interception on its own 5-yard line. Linebacker Jon Beason caught the tipped ball and returned it 44 yards, setting up a 50-yard field goal by John Kasay for the game's final points.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 17-3 lead behind touchdowns by Boldin and Tim Hightower.

Boldin, who returned to action after missing three weeks with a fractured sinus, caught an 8-yard pass on Arizona's second play from scrimmage. He also ran a reverse for 30 yards on the drive, which set up a 21-yard field goal by Neil Rackers.

Linebacker Karlos Dansby set up Arizona's second score when he sacked Delhomme, stripped the ball and came up with the fumble on the Panthers 5-yard line.

On the next play, Boldin caught a 5-yard touchdown pass a drag route from Kurt Warner, who finished 35-of-49 for 381 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Hightower's touchdown went for 2 yards, but the rookie rushed for about 30 yards on the play, twice reversing field twice before cracking the end zone.

The Panthers began their comeback by getting their running game untracked. After being held to two yards rushing in the first quarter, tailback DeAngelo Williams began to find running room. The Panthers ran several direct snaps to Williams, who scored on a 15-yard run midway through the third quarter to cut the deficit to 17-10.

Carolina tied the game after Thomas Davis recovered a fumble deep in Arizona territory. Delhomme found Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass on the next play to forge a 17-17 tie.

Warner posted the 44th 300-yard passing game of his career and Larry Fitzgerald went over 100 yards receiving for the 17th time in his career to lead the Cardinals.