Garcia hit Westbrook cutting across the middle to tie it at 7 with 2:12 left in the second period.

But Carolina, despite committing penalties for offensive pass interference (Johnson) and grounding (Delhomme), made two big plays on a weird 78-yard drive capped by Johnson’s 1-yard TD reception just 4 seconds from the end of the half. Johnson caught a 27-yarder, then Smith outleapt Michael Lewis, who also missed the tackle as Smith picked up 38 yards to the Philadelphia 17. Lewis broke his nose on the play.

Smith forced a pass interference call in the end zone on Sheldon Brown on the next play, then Delhomme lofted a pass into the right corner of the end zone for the 6-foot-4 Johnson. At 5-10, safety Quintin Mikell had no chance to stop the touchdown for a 14-7 Panthers lead.

That go-ahead march took 50 seconds.

The nimble Garcia kept several plays alive early in the third quarter by scrambling away from the rush some more. Most notably, he found Stallworth down the right side for a 30-yard TD to tie it midway through the quarter.

By now, the sputtering offenses had found their rhythm, and Carolina moved 71 yards on eight plays to take a 21-14 edge. Delhomme somehow spotted Williams in a crowd on a left screen and the rookie weaved through four Eagles for a 35-yard TD.

A roughing-the-passer call and Westbrook’s 20-yard run keyed Philly’s 63-yard drive to David Akers’ 28-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. But John Kasay answered with a 45-yarder, pushing the lead back to seven.

Garcia responded with two perfect throws. First he led Westbrook perfectly as the running back beat linebacker James Anderson in a mismatch for a 29-yard gain. Then he found Reggie Brown for the 40-yard score that made it 24-24.

Notes: Johnson now has 801 career receptions. ... Stallworth finished with 111 yards on four receptions, while Brown had 79 on five. Carolina’s Williams, substituting for injured DeShaun Foster (elbow), caught seven passes for 101 and rushed for 74 yards. ... The Panthers have lost four games by four points or less this year. ... In addition to Lewis’ broken nose and concussion, the Eagles lost linebacker Jason Short with a sprained knee. Carolina CB Ken Lucas hurt his thigh and FB Brad Hoover strained his neck.

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