But with two seconds remaining and 14 yards left to the end zone in Sunday's ultradramatic season opener at Qualcomm Stadium, the Panthers called "74 Rocket."

They split five receivers out wide -- Nick Goings, D.J. Hackett, Dwayne Jarrett, Muhsin Muhammad and Dante Rosario -- and told each of them to run straight to the end zone.

"Five verticals," said Delhomme. "That happens only at the end of a game and you've got to try to throw it in there."

Fancy pass patterns wouldn't do because the Chargers, leading by five points, were going to guard the goal line at all costs.

Delhomme said the play seemed to move in slow motion.

His eyes met Rosario's and Delhomme rifled a pass through three defenders -- straight into the middle of the defense, as if aiming at its heart.

Rosario, positioned in the back of the end zone, reached up and made the catch like he was wearing glue gloves, stunning the Chargers and their raucous fans and igniting a Carolina celebration.

With no time left on the clock, John Kasay kicked the extra point for a 26-24 Panthers win.

There is little doubt it was one of the biggest regular-season wins in Carolina's 14-year history.

The Chargers are one of the NFL's elite teams and had won 15 of their previous 16 home games.

The Panthers' star receiver, Steve Smith, was back home in Charlotte, serving the first of a two-game suspension for punching cornerback Ken Lucas during training camp.

Lucas said he asked his teammates to dedicate the game to Smith, who, according to Delhomme, spent much of the game text-messaging team trainer Ryan Vermillion.

Delhomme was playing his first game since an elbow injury ended his season in the third game of last season.

He acknowledged that Sunday's ending reminded him of when he came off the bench to lead the Panthers to a comeback win over Jacksonville in his first game with the Panthers in 2003.

But this one, he said, "was 100 times better."

The Panthers' offense moved the ball well against the Chargers for most of the game, averaging 4.9 yards per rushing attempt and outgaining San Diego 388 yards to 316.

But until the end, Carolina's only touchdown came from the defense on a 31-yard fumble return by Chris Gamble.

The offense had three red-zone opportunities in the first half, but managed only six points out of those chances.

The Panthers drove to the 1 early in the game, but Delhomme failed to complete a fourth-and-goal pass to fullback Brad Hoover.

They also reached the San Diego 9- and 11-yard lines, but had to settle for Kasay field goals.

Delhomme was 1-of-7 passing for 5 yards on those three possessions.

"We couldn't punch it in," he said. "That was extremely frustrating for us."

The Panthers trailed 10-9 until Gamble's touchdown and Kasay's field goal put them ahead 19-10.

But the Chargers fought back and scored on two fourth-quarter touchdown passes by former N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers to take a 24-19 lead with 2:27 remaining.

Knowing only a TD would do, Carolina started its final drive at its 32.

Delhomme's mastery of the two-minute, end-of-game offense was in full display.

"Just looking at him, he's so poised that you feel comfortable about everything that's going on," rookie running back Jonathan Stewart said of Delhomme.

Delhomme threw 7 yards to Hackett and 13 to Muhammad to start the team on the way to its grand finale.

With six seconds remaining, the ball was on the San Diego 20.

Delhomme threw a 6-yarder to Muhammad and the Panthers called a quick timeout, leaving two seconds on the clock, time for a single all-or-nothing play.

Delhomme said the only other instances he had quarterbacked a play when five receivers went vertical to the end zone was in practice in 2003-04, when he completed a pass to Ricky Proehl, and in training camp this year, when he threw to Muhammad.

After taking the snap out of the shotgun formation, Delhomme pumped once, threw to Rosario and hoped.

"I said to myself, 'We might have a chance,' " said Delhomme. "The next thing I knew, Dante was holding it, and mayhem broke loose."

Delhomme said he ran wildly around the field like former N.C. State basketball coach Jim Valvano did on the court when his Wolfpack won the 1983 NCAA championship on a last-second shot.

"I [was] kind of in awe," he said. "It was just elation."

Suddenly, it seems anything is possible this season for the Panthers.

Now that they've beaten one of the NFL's best teams on the road without Smith, wonder what they can become once he returns?

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.