Linebacker Lamar Lathon splattered Ty Detmer to the artificial turf and delivered a message: "I'm going to be bringing it all day."
"I'll be here all day," replied Detmer, who delivered his own message, completing 23 of 38 passes for a career-high 342 yards in leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 20-9 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.Detmer followed a four-touchdown performance last week against Miami by passing the Eagles (6-2) past the Panthers (5-3).
With Detmer making only his third NFL start, the Panthers figured to concentrate on stopping Ricky Watters, who averaged 107 yards rushing a game, and force Detmer to throw the ball under pressure.
Carolina corralled Watters, limiting him to 33 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. But Detmer responded, standing in the pocket and making completions despite taking hits on numerous blitzes.
"They're going to throw everything at you to see if you can handle it," Detmer said, whose one touchdown toss came to rookie tight end Jason Dunn. "It was a big step for me personally handling the blitz."
As was the case last week, Detmer's favorite target was Irving Fryar, who caught seven passes for 143 yards. But Detmer also threw to seven other receivers, including all three tight ends.
"I think it's important for people to realize we're not just a one-dimensional team," coach Ray Rhodes said. "Ty did a pretty good job spreading the ball around to a lot of receivers."
The Panthers, who were 2-for-17 on third and fourth downs, were limited to John Kasay's three field goals. Gary Anderson kicked two field goals for Philadelphia.
"Anytime we have a third or fourth down and inches to go, to be a good football team, we have to make them," Carolina coach Dom Capers said. "Week in and week out, that's the case in this league. You're going to have opportunity and the teams that win take advantage of them and make plays."
Trailing by 11 halfway through the final quarter, Kerry Collins led the Panthers to the Eagles 4 before he fumbled trying to scramble into the end zone. Brian Dawkins recovered for the Eagles, ending Carolina's chances.
"I was trying to make a play, trying to get it in the end zone,' said Collins, who was 16-for-34 for 248 yards. "I just wish the ball had bounced out of bounds."
Both teams moved the ball with relative ease in their opening drives, but only the Eagles scored.
A 42-yard pass from Detmer - who finished 23-for-38 with one interception - to Fryar set up the 3-yard touchdown run by Watters that ended a 41/2-minute, 85-yard drive.
Carolina took the opening kickoff and, with the help of a 29-yard reception by Mark Carrier, got to the Philadelphia 13. But on both third- and fourth-and-1, the Eagles stuffed the Panthers.
For the second week in a row, Detmer successfully operated a two-minute drill at the end of the first half that led to a touchdown.
One play after Carolina's Toi Cook was called for unneccesary roughness, Detmer found Dunn with a 9-yard TD pass with 1:02 left in the half. It was Dunn's first score as a pro.
The Panthers got the ball back with 56 seconds to play in the half, and Collins led them on a drive to their first score, a 47-yard field goal by Kasay on the last play of the half.
Philadelphia cornerback Troy Vincent caused the game's first turnover early in the third quarter, forcing Anthony Johnson's fumble that was recovered by Mike Mamula at the Eagles 22.
The ensuing drive actually lost 7 yards, but Anderson kicked a 46-yard field goal that increased Philadelphia's lead to 17-3.
A 55-yard swing pass from Collins to Johnson - Carolina's longest play of the season - led to Kasay's second field goal, a 39-yarder.
The Panthers then got their first turnover when Eric Davis intercepted Detmer's pass and returned the ball 10 yards to the Eagles 19. Kasay then kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 17-9.
A 36-yard catch by Fryar, the 600th of his pro career, set up Anderson's second field goal, a 21-yarder with 9:29 left in the fourth quarter.