Sunday, August 18, 2002
Cowboys 19, Panthers 16
By JENNA FRYER
AP Sports Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The results aren't there yet, but the Carolina Panthers are feeling a whole lot better about themselves.
The Panthers, 1-15 last season, remained winless for the 342nd straight day when the Dallas Cowboys rallied for a 19-16 exhibition victory over Carolina on Saturday night.
But the Cowboys (2-0) got most of their scoring against Carolina's second-team, giving the Panthers hope that this season can't possibly be as bad as last.
“I don't mind two in a row,” said new coach John Fox, who has lost both of his preseason games. “I think we made progress. We're a young team, we're learning and our first team looked good.”
Carolina jumped out to a 13-0 lead before the Cowboys rallied behind kickers Billy Cundiff and Tim Seder.
The pair is battling for the job and took turns trying field goals against Carolina. Cundiff went first, putting Dallas on the board with a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Seder was up next, knocking in a 49-yarder that cut it to 13-6 right before the half.
Late in the third quarter, Cundiff hit a 32-yarder. Seder won it for the Cowboys with his 25-yard kick that capped the scoring with 5:34 to play.
“The job is always up in the air, even when you are the only kicker here,” Seder said. “You just have to make your kicks when you get your chance and tonight was about giving us both chances to kick.”
Because of injuries to Dallas' offense — the Cowboys were down three starters on the line as well as running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Raghib Ismail — they had to rely on the kickers. Because each performed well, coach Dave Campo said it will be difficult to decide who will be on the opening day roster.
“I like both kickers, but I have a history with Seder,” he said. “So we'll just have to see.”
But it was the Panthers' first-team that was most impressive, even to Campo.
“The Panthers controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” he said.
John Kasay, out the last two weeks with a groin injury, had field goals of 43, 45 and 34 yards as the Panthers scored on their first three possessions. Carolina showed the potential to establish a potent running game and unveiled a new receiving threat in Steve Smith.
And their defense was good — Julius Peppers, the second overall pick in the draft, sacked Quincy Carter for a 10-yard loss on Dallas' first offensive play.
“The fact that I knew that I was going to play two quarters helped my focus,” Peppers said. “Last week it was hard for me to get in the flow of the game.”
Chris Weinke, who struggled last year as a rookie, completed 11 of his first 12 passes and threw the ball downfield — something almost forbidden before Fox replaced George Seifert.
Weinke played the entire first half, completing 14 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a 31-yard touchdown to Smith that came one play after he was nearly intercepted on the same play call.
Smith, well covered on the first attempt, put a fake on Dwayne Goodrich on the second try that caused Goodrich to fall down on the goal line as Smith stepped over for the touchdown.
“We're starting to gel,” Weinke said. “We still need to get better, but we're taking steps in the right direction.”
Smith, an All-Pro kick returner as a rookie last season, has wanted a larger role as a receiver and proved Saturday he deserved consideration with four catches for 44 yards and the touchdown.
But he'll still have to handle all of his kick returning duties — backup Michael Bates broke his right ankle making a tackle on special teams. It was not clear how Bates was injured, but it was evident he thought the Cowboys were to blame because he angrily yelled at their sideline as he was carted off.
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Cowboys 19, Panthers 16
