Panthers' Horse Finds His Legs

Now Healthy, Smith Makes Team Go

BALTIMORE -- It was during a Carolina Panthers practice last week that Jake Delhomme first knew for certain that Steve Smith was back. Really back. As in, all the way back.

Smith, who was the NFL's most productive wide receiver last season, was running a pass pattern during the practice and turned on the speed. He took off in a way that showed that he no longer felt restricted by the injuries to one hamstring, then the other, that plagued him throughout training camp and kept him sidelined for the Panthers' first two games.

"He just opened up," Delhomme said. "It wasn't a long down-the-field play. It was something kind of in the seam. . . . He hit another gear. It was good for me mentally because there was no doubt I'd been different throwing to him a little bit. You want to protect him. But he hit that other gear. I'm sure it meant a lot for him."

It must have meant something because Smith was back to his dominating ways Sunday, catching eight passes for 189 yards and a touchdown as the Panthers (4-2) beat the Baltimore Ravens to extend their winning streak to four games. They're unbeaten since Smith returned to the lineup, and they're again looking like an NFC Super Bowl contender after early losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings.

"We didn't play well in Atlanta, and they played well," Delhomme said. "Let's get that out right from the beginning. They came in and played better than us that day. We did not play good football. We had some issues up front, losing some guys during the game, but that happens. In Minnesota, we played better. We played decent football. We had the lead in the second half. Some things just happened. But I think that game turned the tide. . . . When Steve came back, certainly it helps. There's no doubt. In my opinion, it's like taking Michael Vick away from Atlanta. It's like taking Peyton [Manning] away from the Colts. He's a good player. Other teams have to account for him on every play."

Smith led the league in receiving yards and tied for the lead in catches and touchdown receptions last season as the Panthers reached the NFC title game before losing in Seattle. Seahawks tailback Shaun Alexander won the NFL's most valuable player award last season. But an argument could be made that Smith, not Alexander, was the MVP last season and is the league's most valuable non-quarterback now.

The Panthers signed wideout Keyshawn Johnson, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys in the offseason, to complement Smith. At least so far, Smith and Johnson are coexisting nicely. Smith has 31 catches for 450 yards. Johnson has 32 catches for 419 yards.

Smith likens having Johnson around to what it once was like for him to team with Muhsin Muhammad, another sturdy wide receiver who now is with the Chicago Bears. The other parts also are falling into place for the Panthers. Tailback DeShaun Foster is running relatively effectively, and defensive end Julius Peppers has a league-leading eight sacks.

But it's Smith who makes the Panthers go. Delhomme, who threw for 365 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, is a different quarterback with Smith in the lineup. He failed to throw a touchdown pass in the two games that Smith missed. On Sunday, Smith had a 72-yard touchdown catch after the Ravens had drawn to within 16-14 with 4 minutes 15 seconds to play. That put the Panthers ahead, 23-14, and they held on to win, 23-21.

"He's a remarkable player," Panthers Coach John Fox said. "He's short in height, but he plays a lot bigger and a lot stronger."

Smith, who is listed at 5 feet 9 and 185 pounds, said his final step in returning from being hurt was knowing that he could play with his usual abandon.

"I think I was at 100 percent probably a week and a half ago [but] mentally, I was not there," he said. "That was the part I had to get over. There were still times in the game where I was running and I looked and said, 'Hey, okay, I feel good.' "

He gets along well with Delhomme, and his game-sealing touchdown Sunday came on a play similar to one earlier in the fourth quarter on which the quarterback had failed to throw him the ball, leading to some dialogue between the two in the huddle and on the sideline.

"I was just saying: 'Hey, I'm running good. Let's go. Let's go,' " Smith said. "He was telling me: 'Hey, shut up. We're going to get you the ball. I know you're feeling good. It's about time.' Stuff like that."