1997 Game 227 (Week 17) St. Louis at Carolina

Posted on June 17, 2024 by bboyd31573

Rams take down the Panthers

The St. Louis Rams ended their season on a high note as they took down the Carolina Panthers 23-20 Saturday at Ericcson Stadium in Charlotte. In fact, the Rams have won three of their last four games to close the 1997 campaign and finished 5-11.

Ram quarterback Tony Banks threw for 256 yards on 22 of 37 passing with a touchdown and no interceptions. Banks also rushed seven times for 17 yards and a touchdown. WR Isaac Bruce caught six passes for 32 yards and a TD. RB Amp Lee caught five passes for 75 yards. RB Jerald Moore rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries.

The Panthers, who were in the NFC Championship game a year ago, finished with a dismal 3-13 record. They lost six of their last seven games.

1997 Game 227 Stats

1997 Game 221 (Week 16) Green Bay at Carolina

Posted on June 12, 2024 by bboyd31573

Packers earn the NFC’s top seed with a win in Carolina

For the second season in a row, the road in the NFC to the Super Bowl goes through Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers earned the NFC’s top seed with a 27-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at Ericcson Stadium.

QB Brett Favre was on fire early in the victory. He threw three 1^st half touchdowns as he paced the Packers to a commanding 24-7 halftime lead. Favre hooked up with WR Robert Brooks on a five-yard TD pass and then WR Antonio Freeman on touchdowns of 18 and 12. All three came in the second quarter.

Favre finished 28 of 44 passing for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Freeman caught 5 passes for 81 yards and 2 TDs, while Brooks had 10 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown.

The Packer defense was dominant. They held the Panthers to just 207 total yards in the win. They sacked QB Kerry Collins twice and intercepted him twice, both by SS LeRoy Butler.

The Packers (14-1) will finish the regular season Sunday at Lambeau against the Bills, while the Panthers (3-12) finish up on Saturday at home versus the St. Louis Rams.

1997 Game 221 Stats

1997 Game 210 (Week 15) Carolina at Dallas

Posted on May 30, 2024 by bboyd31573

“Prime Time” dominates Prime Time!

Dion “Prime Time” Sanders had a night to remember on Monday Night Football to end week 14 of the NFL season. Neon Dion scored three touchdowns in the Dallas Cowboys’ 31-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Texas Stadium.

In the second quarter trailing 10-0, Sanders picked off Panther QB Kerry Collins and raced 21 yards for the Cowboys’ first score of the night cutting the lead to 10-7. Then late in the third quarter, trailing 13-10, Sanders caught a punt and returned that 50 yards for a punt return touchdown giving Dallas the lead 17-13. Finally, Sanders intercepted another Collins’ pass and returned it 59 yards high-stepping his way in the end zone for the game-clinching touchdown.

The Cowboys are now 7-7 on the season and will end the season traveling to Cincinnati and then hosting the NY Giants. The Panthers are 3-11 and will face the Packers at home.

1997 Game 210 Stats

1997 Game 186 (Week 14) New Orleans at Carolina

Posted on April 25, 2024 by bboyd31573

Saints hold off Panthers to stay in the playoff hunt

Mike Ditka won the NFL Coach of the Year in 1985 after his destructible Bears tore through the NFL to a World Title. He is on the short list for this year’s COTY honors as his New Orleans Saints has defied all the naysayers and are in the middle of the playoff picture in the NFC with another victory Sunday afternoon. The Saints beat the Panthers 24-19 in Ericsson Stadium and are now 8-5 on the season. Ditka has transformed the Saints from last year’s 3-13 team into a contender.

Saints’ QB Billy Jo Hobert had a great three quarters in the victory where he was 11 of 22 for 157 yards and 3 TDs, which gave the Saints a 24-10 lead. Then Hobert nearly threw the game away in the fourth quarter. He went 1 of 5 for 10 yards and three interceptions in the final period. Luckily, the Saints’ defense held off the Panthers for the win.

The Saints got a strong running effort in this one. They rushed for 147 yards as a team and RB Ray Zellars paced the Saints with 88 individual yards. Troy Davis chipped in with 60 yards on the ground.

Defensively, the Saints showed up again. They sacked Panther QBs six times and intercepted backup Steve Beuerlein twice.

The Saints will try to position themselves into a wildcard spot next week as they host the St. Louis Rams. The Panthers, now 3-10, will travel to Big D to take on the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

1997 Game 186 Stats

1997 Game 175 (Week 13) Carolina at St. Louis

Posted on April 9, 2024 by bboyd31573

Panthers take a bite out of the Rams

The Carolina Panthers took down the St. Louis Rams, 29-13, at the TWA Dome on Sunday. For the first time this year, the Panthers finally looked like the team that played in the NFC Championship game from a year ago. Carolina pounded the rock with 182 yards rushing and QB Kerry Collins had an efficient day going 18 of 29 for 215 yards and 2 TDs.

Rookie RB Fred Lane rushed for 119 yards on 20 carries, while RB Anthony Johnson rushed for 35 yards on 10 carries with a TD.

As for the Rams, their offensive production was putrid. QB Tony Banks started the game 0-13 in passing and was knocked out of the game. Former Redskin QB Mark Rypien replaced him and went 11 of 28 passing for 127 yards with a TD and a pick. The Rams mustered up 195 total yards.

The Panthers (3-9) will host the New Orleans Saints next Sunday, while the Rams (2-10) will take on the Redskins in Washington.

1997 Game 175 Stats

1997 Game 162 (Week 12) Carolina at San Francisco

Posted on March 27, 2024 by bboyd31573

49ers continue to roll; shut down Panthers

The San Francisco 49er defense could be the most dominant group in the NFL today, on either side of the ball. They dominated the Carolina Panthers, 19-10, on Sunday at 3-COM Park at Candlestick Sunday afternoon.

The Niners defense held the Panthers to just 222 total yards on the day, with 80 of it coming in their 3^rd quarter touchdown drive. They forced the Panthers to turn the ball over and harassed Panther QB Kerry Collins all day long, even though, they didn’t record a sack.

On the season, the Niners defense is only giving up 11.5 points per game, which is best in the NFL. They yield just 69.3 yards on the ground and only 122.6 yards in the air. Offenses only average 191.9 yards per game against the Niners, which is a league best. They are also among the league leaders in sacks and forcing turnovers.

The Niners 9 game winning streak is also because they have changed the way they attack teams offensively. Instead of relying solely on the pass game, they have beefed up their running game and average 140 yards on the ground for the season. In Sunday’s game, Garrison Hearst rushed for 60 yards on 20 carries.

Without All-Pro Jerry Rice, the Niners passing attack has relied on youngsters Terrell Owens and JJ Stokes. QB Steve Young is still the top passer in the NFL and today against the Panthers he threw for 231 yards on 16 of 28 passing with a TD and no interceptions.

With this win, the Niners are now 9-2 on the season and will host the San Diego Chargers next week. In 2 weeks, San Francisco will have a huge showdown with the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs. As for the Panthers, they are now 2-9 on a disappointing season and will travel next week to take on the St. Louis Rams.

1997 Game 162 Stats