Delhomme passes for TD, runs for another

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Eli Manning stepped to the line, pointing

out the defense just like brother Peyton.

Before he could call his audible, Carolina defensive tackle

Brentson Buckner pushed through the line and tossed the top draft

pick to the ground.

---

Welcome to the NFL, rookie.

Jake Delhomme spoiled Manning's debut as starter for the New

York Giants, throwing for one touchdown and running for another to

lead the Carolina Panthers to a 27-20 preseason victory Thursday

night.

"We did some good things, it was encouraging" said Delhomme,

who failed to lead any touchdown drives in last week's win over

Washington. "Last week, I was a little disappointed we didn't

punch it in. So we did some good things, and it was something to

build on."

Manning had an up-and-down day. His passes were sharp and mostly

on the mark early, but as the game wore on, the Panthers and their

vaunted defense figured him out.

Although Buckner's second-quarter takedown was flagged for

encroachment, Manning was sacked by Mark Fields three plays later

to bring his night to an end with Carolina leading 17-6. Manning

finished 9-for-15 for 117 yards.

"I've still got a lot to learn," Manning said. "Feeling

better in the pocket, being more comfortable in there. Standing

there making my reads and better throws. But every day and every

week, I feel more comfortable."

He proved to be a near carbon copy of his brother early, barking

out audibles at the line beginning with just his second play of the

game.

But unlike Peyton, the NFL's co-MVP last season for the

Indianapolis Colts, he wasn't always on the mark. On his second

series, he tried to change the play from the shotgun position but

ran out of time and earned a delay of game penalty.

Manning was elusive, though, avoiding a safety by dumping the

ball off just as Julius Peppers closed in on him in the end zone.

Peppers laughed about his near-miss later.

"It was a close call," Peppers said. "He threw it to no one.

In a real game, I mean, this was preseason, so he got away with a

close call."

In the end, the $45 million kid had impressed some of the

Panthers.

"He's going to be good," defensive end Mike Rucker said.

"They're trying to protect him with quick counts and hard counts

and quick throws. That's understandable. He'll be good when he gets

older."

On this night, it was Delhomme who sparkled.

An unheralded quarterback until he led Carolina into the Super

Bowl last season, Delhomme picked up right where he left off with a

sharp and confident passing game.

He went 11-of-13 for 144 yards, including back-to-back pretty

passes to Steve Smith. One was for 38 yards, and Smith added a leap

over his defenders on the next one, an 18-yard completion that

moved the Panthers to the 7-yard line.

Delhomme threw a touchdown pass to Muhsin Muhammad on the next

play for a 10-3 Carolina lead.

He later led the Panthers on a 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive

and capped it with his own 1-yard TD run. The snap on the play was

bad, and Delhomme had to fall away from the end zone. He recovered

about four yards out, then scrambled left and into the end zone

untouched for a 17-6 lead.

Manning probably moved ahead of Kurt Warner in the battle for

the starting job.

Warner was sacked on his first two plays of the game and four

times overall. He was intercepted late in the fourth quarter by

William Hampton, who returned it 49-yards for a touchdown to seal

the Carolina win.

Warner finished 9-of-11 for 71 yards.

"As we get closer to the season, we need to get some good

playing time," Warner said. "Both of us need an opportunity to

play and get a chance to get comfortable out there. But those

aren't our decisions."

Game notes
Carolina kicker John Kasay had field goals of 55 and 52

yards. ... New York kicker Todd France made field goals of 51 and

42 yards. ... Ron Dayne and Chris Douglas had 1-yard TD runs for

New York. ... Carolina linebacker Jessie Armstead, who spent nine

seasons with the Giants, was inactive because of an injured

shoulder. ... Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey did not play because

of a foot injury. ... Fields, who missed all of last season with

Hodgkin's disease, had five tackles and two sacks.