ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 23, 1996 TAG: 9612230166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
SOURCE: The New York Times
When the time came for the Carolina Panthers to seize their own destiny, they did it with the defense that has become their trademark in the two years of their existence.
The Pittsburgh Steelers snapped the ball 23 times in Carolina territory during the fourth quarter Sunday, but the Panthers did not yield a point. Five of those plays came inside the 9-yard line in the final two minutes.
Not until safety Chad Cota intercepted quarterback Kordell Stewart's pass in the end zone with 29 seconds remaining did Carolina secure its 18-14 victory, and with it the NFC West Division championship.
``We want to be in that situation where it's on the line for us to win the game,'' Cota said of the defense. ``We think we're good enough to get it done.''
The victory before a crowd of 72,217 gave the Panthers a 12-4 record and a bye for the first round of the playoffs next weekend. The Panthers will make their playoff debut either Jan.4 or 5 at Ericsson Stadium, where they are 8-0.
Pittsburgh (10-6), which entered the game with the AFC Central title in hand and no chance of improving its position, will play host to the Indianapolis Colts on Dec.29.
``I thought it was a fitting ending because it showed the strength of will of our guys, the way they hung in there,'' said Panthers coach Dom Capers, who came to his job from Pittsburgh, where he was the Steelers' defensive coordinator.
Carolina's seventh consecutive victory capped one of the more remarkable regular-season performances in recent NFL history. The Panthers twice defeated NFC West power San Francisco and won a divisional title earlier than any NFL expansion team ever. Their winning streak is the longest in the league entering this season's playoffs.
After Carolina took a 9-0 lead, Pittsburgh's defense forced a fumble by Panthers fullback Howard Griffith at his own 7. On third down, quarterback Mike Tomczak found wide receiver Andre Hastings at the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass, and Norm Johnson's extra point cut the lead to 9-7.
Johnson executed an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, recovering the ball himself at the Pittsburgh 44. Steelers Coach Bill Cowher turned over the offense to Stewart, the back-up quarterback and all-purpose threat, and began resting starters.
Stewart threw an interception on his second play, but Carolina failed to move the ball and a punt put Pittsburgh on its 20. Stewart dropped back to pass on first down, then scrambled up the right hash mark, cut left across the field and outraced safety Pat Terrell down the left sideline to complete an 80-yard touchdown run. It was the longest touchdown run ever by a quarterback in the NFL and put the Steelers ahead 14-9.
Aside from that play, though, Pittsburgh's offense sputtered through the first three quarters, recording only four first downs. That enabled Carolina to regain the lead on three field goals by John Kasay, who set a league record with 37 field goals this season and is the NFL's leading scorer, with 145 points.
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. The Panthers' Kevin Greene signals a safety afterby CNBforcing one in the second quarter Sunday. color. KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL