This time, Panthers overcome their mistakes

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- After playing essentially an error-free game in beating Dallas in the first round of the playoffs, the Carolina Panthers showed they can make mistakes and still win.

The Panthers beat the St. Louis Rams 29-23 in double overtime Saturday to advance to the NFC Championship Game despite committing 13 penalties for 92 yards, botching an onside kick and blowing two chances at a winning field goal in overtime.

It was a far cry from the 29-10 victory against Dallas, when the Panthers became the first playoff team since Pittsburgh in the 1976 Super Bowl to play a penalty-free, turnover-free game.

"Just look at this hair," Carolina head coach John Fox said, pointing to his silver mane. "I've never seen a game quite like that and there were as big of peeks and lows as you can have in a football game."

Against St. Louis, the lows at the end almost doomed the Panthers.

Consider:

• After John Kasay missed a 53-yard field goal with 8:40 to play, St. Louis cut it to 23-20 when Marshall Faulk scored and the Rams converted the 2-point conversion with 2:44 to go.

• Carolina then allowed St. Louis kicker Jeff Wilkins to recover his own onside kick, and the Rams drove to a tying field goal at the end of regulation.

• Carolina won the flip and drove to the St. Louis 23, setting up a 40-yard field goal. But a delay of game penalty negated the kick, and Kasay eventually missed a 45-yarder.

Fortunately for Carolina, the Rams made plenty of mistakes of their own. Wilkins missed his own 53-yarder by about a yard in overtime. Later, the Rams were on the verge of field goal range again when Marc Bulger threw his third interception at the Carolina 35. The Panthers won it three plays later.

St. Louis also was hurt by poor play in the red zone. On the Rams' first three possessions, they drove to the Carolina 2, 8 and 6, but had to settle for field goals each time.

"It's a major disappointment," St. Louis head coach Mike Martz said. "We had so many opportunities to win that game, particularly at the end."

Penalties were costly for the Panthers throughout the game. In one series late in the second quarter, three straight penalties turned a first-and-10 at the St. Louis 24 into a first-and-35 at the 49.

But in a testament to the Panthers' resilience, they scrambled to the St. Louis 27 and Kasay kicked a 45-yard field goal that put Carolina ahead 10-9.

The penalties "are understandable," Carolina defensive end Michael Rucker said. "This place is loud. It's a doghouse in here."

Carolina's lone turnover came in the first quarter when Jake Delhomme's pass was intercepted by linebacker Tommy Polley at the St. Louis 38 and returned to the Carolina 25, setting up a field goal.

On the Panthers' next possession, they needed a little luck to avoid another costly mistake that would have wasted Stephen Davis' 64-yard run to the St. Louis 4 -- his last before leaving with an injured left quadriceps.

Delhomme's arm was hit as he tried to lateral on third down from the 5. But after a Ram failed to fall on the ball, Carolina's Muhsin Muhammad recovered in the end zone to put Carolina ahead 7-6.