This week’s 27-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins equals the largest comeback victory in Carolina Panthers history.
It is the fourth time the team has overcome a 17-point deficit to win a game.
Miami started to run away with it in the second quarter after two touchdown passes from Tua Tagovialoa gave them a 17-0 advantage. Both scores came from Bryce Young mistakes.
On the first turnover, Young simply dropped the ball in the face of pressure as Bradley Chubb was approaching. Chubb still had to make a play despite having a clear path to sack the quarterback.
Young let the ball slip out of his hands onto the turf for Chubb to collect for a Dolphins turnover. The ‘Phins made it count.
Then, on the following Panthers drive, Young overthrew a pass intended for Xavier Legette into the arms of Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Coming back from 17 down
A Young to Legette touchdown on the following drive, then a field goal, brought the half-time score back to a respectable 17-10.
Rico Dowdle had himself a career day with 234 total yards. His 206 rushing yards is tied for second in franchise history for a single game, four yards less than DeAngelo Williams’ 210-yard game in 2012.
Four minutes and 11 seconds from the end of the game, a one-yard Dowdle rushing touchdown gave Carolina the lead for the first time.
Miami hit back three plays later to regain the lead with Tagovailoa’s third passing touchdown. Then an eight-play drive from Carolina was finished off by Young’s second touchdown pass, caught by rookie tight end Mitchell Evans.
After Evans put the points on the board, Carolina was able to hold on for their second win of the season and second at home in as many games.
The original 17-point comeback
The first time Carolina overcame a 17-point deficit was the season opener in 2003. A 37-year-old Rodney Peete was declared the starter for the 2003 season for a second consecutive year. The veteran quarterback had career numbers as the Carolina quarterback in 2002.
The season started at home to Jacksonville Jaguars, who went in with a 14-0 half-time lead. The Jaguars received the ball first to begin the second half and added three more points via a field goal for a 17-0 lead.
But head coach John Fox had a trick up his sleeve. In the offseason, he had signed 28-year-old quarterback Jake Delhomme. Delhomme went undrafted from Southwestern Louisiana in 1997 and began his career on the New Orleans practice squad.
Delhomme started his only two NFL games in 1999 – winning one and losing one. He played in four more games in 2002 before trying his hand in the free agency market.
His final stat line in New Orleans was six games in six seasons: two starts, one win, one loss, three touchdown passes, two rushing touchdowns, five interceptions and one lost fumble.
But Fox took a shot on Delhomme, promising him a chance. He got that chance earlier than expected by being thrown into a Week 1 game they were losing 17-0. While Delhomme did throw two interceptions, he also made two touchdown passes to give Carolina a 18-17 lead.
Jacksonville got one back to give them the advantage once more but with 16 seconds remaining, Delhomme threw his third touchdown of the game to give secure a Week 1 victory.
Delhomme was declared the starter and went on to lead the Panthers to their first-ever Super Bowl appearance that year.
Other comebacks
Fox and Delhomme manufactured their second 17-point comeback the following season. In a Week 10 road game at San Francisco in 2004, the 49ers took a 17-point lead. The Panthers pulled a field goal back for a half time scoreline of 17-3.
Carolina came back to lead 20-17 in the third quarter. The 49ers attempted to begin a shootout with both teams overtaking each other.With three passing touchdowns from Delhomme and Carolina scoring 17 points in each of the last two quarters, they won the game by 10 clear points, 37-27.
Along with the Jaguars game of 2003, one of the Panthers’ most famous franchise comebacks was in Week 7 of 2018. As in Philadelphia, the Eagles were 17-0 up with 10:41 remaining. Yes, the Panthers were shut out five minutes into the final quarter.
But Cam Newton helped the team with three scores – two passing touchdowns – on the road to a big comeback victory in the ever-hostile Lincoln Financial Field.
