news-record.com

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After a 17-6 loss to the Jets, Panthers coach John Fox said he would look at the offense to make possible changes, wide receiver Steve Smith was snappish after catching two passes for 2 yards, and quarterback Jake Delhomme said he couldn't remember a time when he was more frustrated as a football player.

"Oh no, not close," Delhomme said. "Not even on the same planet."

After four interceptions, Delhomme didn't even venture a guess on whether he would start next week against Tampa Bay. He didn't seem to get any reassurance from his coach, who said he would look at the offense and make any adjustments.

"We've got to look hard at who's out there and what we're doing and get better," Fox said.

Fox said there was discussion about replacing Delhomme with backup Matt Moore during the game, but he ultimately decided the starter was the team's best option.

Smith, who was listed as questionable with sore ribs, said he wasn't 100 percent as he struggled to shake Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Revis intercepted Smith twice in the fist half, returning the first for a 67-yard touchdown. The ensuing field goal gave the Jets a 7-0 lead with 8:48 to go in the first quarter.

As Smith streaked downfield, the slant pass hit his heel and was deflected into Revis' hands.

"It was an error by me just running the wrong route," Smith said.

Smith was short of patience when a reporter asked a follow-up question about the miscommunication.

"You don't play, so you don't understand," Smith said, cutting off any more questions on the interception.

Running back DeAngelo Williams, who had been averaging 5.4 yards per carry, was held to 40 yards on 16 carries for a 2.5 game-average.

The defense had a much better day.

Other than Revis' return, the Jets scored one touchdown, set up by a Kerry Rhodes interception in the second quarter. Thomas Jones ran the ball 3 yards as the Jets took a 14-3 lead into the half.

"It's been the story of our season, a play here or there," said linebacker Jon Beason, who led the Panthers (4-7) with 17 tackles. "No one's that much better than us, they're just executing down the stretch and we're not."

Safety Chris Harris saved a touchdown by forcing Dustin Keller to fumble a 16-yard catch just shy of the end zone. Richard Marshall recovered the ball for the Panthers with 9:21 to play in the third.

Although Carolina didn't turn that into points, the Panthers found some momentum at the right time when Chris Gamble intercepted a pass meant for Braylon Edwards to start the fourth quarter, and a 26-yard completion to Dante Rosario started a drive that took the Panthers to the Jets' 10.

Delhomme found Smith in the end zone behind Revis, and the catch was initially ruled a touchdown with 11:45 left in the fourth quarter. The Jets challenged, the touchdown was ruled an incompletion and the Panthers settled for a field goal, to trail 14-6.

Referee Jerome Boger said Smith didn't have possession when he went out of bounds in the back of the end zone.

"It is hard to lose any game, whether you get beat and give up 400 yards on defense or if you get beat the way we did today," Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers said. "It's still tough, it's still and loss."

After the game, several of the Panthers seemed at a loss to understand what happened.

"We've done better the last few weeks and felt great about our game plan going into today," Delhomme said. "For whatever reason, it's not happening."

Carolina 0 3 0 3 — 6
N.Y. Jets 7 7 0 3 — 17

NYJ—Revis 67 interception return (Feely kick).
Car—FG Kasay 40.
NYJ—Jones 3 run (Feely kick).
Car—FG Kasay 28.
NYJ—FG Feely 47.
A—76,381.

TEAM STATISTICS

First downs — Car 11, NYJ 16
Total Net Yards — Car 176, NYJ 283
Rushes-yards — Car 25-75, NYJ 39-139
Passing — Car 101, NYJ 144
Punt Returns — Car 2-50, NYJ 3-32
Kickoff Returns — Car 3-58, NYJ 3-82
Interceptions Ret. — Car 1-2, NYJ 4-84
Comp-Att-Int — Car 15-35-4, NYJ 13-18-1
Sacked-Yards Lost — Car 3-26, NYJ 3-10
Punts — Car 5-45.4, NYJ 5-50.8
Fumbles-Lost — Car 0-0, NYJ 2-2
Penalties-Yards — Car 5-30, NYJ 3-24
Time of Possession — Car 26:42, NYJ 33:18

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING
Carolina — D.Williams 16-40, Stewart 9-35.
N.Y. Jets — Jones 25-75, Greene 10-36, Sanchez 3-27, Woodhead 1-1.

PASSING
Carolina — Delhomme 14-34-4-130, D.Williams 1-1-0-(minus 3).
N.Y. Jets — Sanchez 13-17-1-154, Clemens 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING
Carolina — Rosario 4-62, D.Williams 4-10, Jarrett 2-43, S.Smith 2-2, Barnidge 1-4, Hoover 1-4, Muhammad 1-2.
N.Y. Jets — Keller 4-68, Edwards 3-40, Jones 3-11, Woodhead 2-23, Cotchery 1-12.

MISSED FIELD GOALS
N.Y. Jets — Feely 48 (WR).