Carolina effective utilizing players

The 37-27 defeat was the 49ers' (1-8) fourth straight loss.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Though the Carolina Panthers' injury problems are getting a bit comical, Jake Delhomme has found at least two positives.
Some Panthers are discovering new skills, as punter Todd Sauerbrun showed in his impressive day as a kicker -- and the quarterback is making lots of new friends.
"It's a little different in the huddle at times," Delhomme said Sunday after the Panthers beat the San Francisco 49ers. "You had so many new guys coming in, and we were saying, 'Where are you playing? Are you playing right here?' "
Favorite target
Delhomme threw three touchdown passes to Muhsin Muhammad in the second half, and Sauerbrun was perfect on four extra points and the go-ahead 34-yard field goal in Carolina's 37-27 victory.
With 11 players on injured reserve and many more hurting on the active roster, the Panthers weren't exactly shocked when John Kasay limped to the bench with a strained calf in the third quarter.
After Carolina's next touchdown, Sauerbrun calmly kicked the extra point -- and more than a few teammates gave him grief for being so versatile.
"It's a serious thing, but it was comedy to us," Muhammad said. "Just to have Todd out there kicking field goals, it was just funny. I don't know why. Maybe because we've got this injury bug living on us."
Discovery
Muhammad had five of his six catches for 123 yards in the second half, shortly after the Panthers realized San Francisco's secondary was as shaky as any part of Carolina's injury-plagued roster.
So the Panthers tightened up their protection on Delhomme and instructed Muhammad and Ricky Proehl to get open. Meanwhile, Carolina's defense forced four turnovers by Tim Rattay in the second half -- and just like that, the Panthers scored 34 points to snap their six-game losing streak.
"We had a pretty heart-to-heart talk at halftime, and our guys responded," coach John Fox said. "We had some guys step up. I told them that what I saw in the first half wasn't what I expected, and they responded."
Comeback
The Panthers scored 17 points in the final 7:12 after Brandon Lloyd's 30-yard TD catch gave San Francisco a 27-20 lead early in the fourth quarter. Muhammad got two late TDs by finding big holes in the Niners' befuddled secondary, missing its top four cornerbacks due to injuries.
The 49ers (1-8) lost their fourth straight to extend their worst start since 1979.
"We just totally self-destructed in the second half," coach Dennis Erickson said. "When we had a chance to win it, we didn't. Whether it's a penalty or a fumble or an interception, it's not just one thing. It's self-destruction in all areas."
Rattay passed for 284 yards, but it was perhaps his worst game as a starter. He made a key fumble and threw four interceptions, making Carolina's weak secondary look good.
"Tim knows and I know that he made some pretty bad decisions, there's no question about that," Erickson said. "It was obvious."
Good first half
The 49ers held the ball for nearly 23 minutes in the first half, getting two short TD runs by Kevan Barlow. But Carolina scored 17 quick points in the third quarter, taking the lead on Muhammad's 40-yard TD catch.
Muhammad caught a 4-yard TD pass with 7:12 remaining to cap a drive rife with Niners defensive errors, and Rattay fumbled while being sacked moments later.
Mike Rucker recovered, and Sauerbrun drilled his field goal with 4:25 to go. After Brentson Buckner intercepted Rattay again, Muhammad got open for his third score.
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