Dolphins hold off Panthers

CHARLOTTE -- Yet again, the Carolina Panthers couldn't capitalize on a chance to square their record, but this might have been the defeat that finally extinguished their playoff hopes.

Just as they'd done in prior losses to Buffalo and New Orleans, the Panthers dropped two games under .500 on Thursday night with a 24-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins at Bank of America Stadium.

For a moment - just a moment - there was hope that Jake Delhomme's desperate high lob into the end zone as time expired might somehow be caught by a teammate in the end zone. However, the Dolphins batted the ball away.

"We battled. It just wasn't good enough," Delhomme said.

The Panthers (4-6) face a difficult closing schedule that includes games against headliner teams such as the Saints, Vikings and Patriots.

The Dolphins (5-5) led 14-3 at halftime, but their margin was cut to 17-14 late in the fourth quarter.

Just when it appeared Carolina had a chance for a comeback, Miami running back Ricky Williams broke free for a 46-yard touchdown run with 3:55 remaining that turned out to be the clincher.

"Coach always talks about finishing," Williams said. "Sometimes in this league, in a physical game, it's difficult to finish. I think in the past we've prided ourselves on finishing games and we did a good job tonight."

After playing efficiently for three consecutive games without a turnover, Delhomme's early-season struggles resurfaced.

He overthrew receivers at key times and underthrew Steve Smith midway through the third quarter when Miami cornerback Nathan Jones picked him off at the Dolphins' 4.

Time and again, Delhomme tried to connect with Smith on medium-length or deep passes only to fail. Their longest completion was a 20-yarder - until the fourth quarter.

Trailing 17-6, Delhomme and the Panthers fought back. He directed an eight-play, 68-yard drive that culminated in him finally connecting with Smith on a big play.

Smith got open in the right corner of the end zone and caught a 27-yarder for a touchdown with 5:18 remaining to cut Miami's lead to 17-12.

Carolina went for a two-point conversion and got it on a run up the middle to narrow the Dolphins' lead to 17-14.

The fired-up Panthers defense looked set to stop the Dolphins and give the ball back to Delhomme until Miami converted a third-and-11 play when quarterback Chad Henne completed a 15-yard pass to receiver Davone Bess to set up Williams' long TD run.

Williams' other TDs came in the final four minutes of the first half when he scored on a 14-yard pass and a 1-yard run. That marked the first time he's had running and receiving touchdowns in the same game in his nine-year career.

The Panthers started out strong, driving to the Miami 7 on their opening possession, but stalled there and settled for a 29-yard field goal by John Kasay for a 3-0 lead.

In a bit of a surprise, the run-oriented Panthers tried three consecutive passing plays from the 7 but didn't gain any ground.

Delhomme had incompletions on first and second downs, including a drop by Muhsin Muhammad, then was sacked on third down when Joey Porter roared past Travelle Wharton on the left side.

Miami's offense had barely moved the ball for the first 20 minutes of game, but got going midway through the second quarter when quarterback Chad Henne completed a 36-yard pass to receiver Brian Hartline to the Carolina 44.

From there, the Dolphins mixed the pass and the run to set up Henne's 14-yard TD pass to Williams, who scored again a 1-yard run.

The Panthers clearly missed all-pro left tackle Jordan Gross, who suffered a season-ending broken ankle in last Sunday's win against Atlanta. His replacement, Wharton, gave up three first-half sacks.

The defense also wasn't the same again for the second consecutive game after the loss of outside linebacker Thomas Davis to a season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.

After playing twice in a span of five days, the Panthers now have a long weekend to rest before preparing for their Nov. 29 game at the New York Jets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Dolphins 24, Panthers 17

FIRST QUARTER

Car--FG Kasay 29, 9:31.

SECOND QUARTER

Mia--Williams 14 pass from Henne (Carpenter kick), 3:57. Mia--Williams 1 run (Carpenter kick), :57.

FOURTH QUARTER

Car--FG Kasay 33, 14:21. Mia--FG Carpenter 37, 7:39. Car--S.Smith 27 pass from Delhomme (D.Williams run), 5:18. Mia--Williams 46 run (Carpenter kick), 3:55. Car--FG Kasay 48, 1:41.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Miami, Williams 22-119, Hilliard 4-24, Polite 4-11, Henne 1-0. Carolina, D.Williams 13-122, Stewart 12-43, Delhomme 2-17.

PASSING--Miami, Henne 17-29-0-172. Carolina, Delhomme 19-42-1-227.

RECEIVING--Miami, Bess 6-63, Ginn Jr. 4-32, Hartline 2-47, Williams 2-19, Hilliard 2-7, Camarillo 1-4. Carolina, S.Smith 7-87, Rosario 4-40, Muhammad 3-27, Barnidge 2-46, Sutton 2-18, D.Williams 1-9.

Att.--73,475.

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