National Football League

Panthers enjoy taking a break from losing

Published Dec. 20, 2010 7:32 p.m. ET

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For a day, the bowed heads, angry words and cheap shots on the Carolina sideline were replaced by smiles, hugs and warm gestures.

Coach John Fox got to celebrate at home one final time, Jimmy Clausen finally earned a win and this year's Panthers made sure they wouldn't match the 2001 team's standard for incompetence.

And it didn't even hurt them too much in the only important competition they're still a part of - the race for the No. 1 draft pick.

Sunday's ugly but satisfying 19-12 victory over Arizona was a welcome respite from a miserable year and allowed Fox to enjoy what was almost certainly his final home game as he finishes out his contract.

Sure, the Panthers (2-12) still have the NFL's worst record. All they have to do now is visit an angry Pittsburgh (10-4) team coming off a loss on Thursday then close at the NFC's best team, Atlanta (12-2). But as the players enjoyed Monday off before starting a short week, there were no apologies for ending a seven-game losing streak against a fellow downtrodden team.

''As everybody knows, there's been a lot said about what might happen this offseason,'' left tackle Jordan Gross said. ''It was really, really good to get the win for everybody in here on the team. For coach Fox especially, it was nice.''

Fox won his 78th game in his ninth season in Carolina, but producing only three winning seasons cost him a contract extension. Yet Fox's ability to motivate and keep control of his team in tough times was on display at a half-empty Bank of America Stadium.

After Jordan Senn recovered Arizona's onside kick in the final minute to preserve the win, he raced to the sideline with the ball and handed it to Fox. When the Panthers gathered in the locker room, Gross gave Fox another game ball.

Hugs and tears were in abundance.

''It's a good way to send him out,'' linebacker Jon Beason said. ''You know he's got a lot of memories in this place and he's done a lot for this organization so you know to win the last one at home is big.''

Even the normally guarded Fox had to stop himself from choking up as he left the field and addressed reporters.

''It means a lot to me,'' he said.

Fox didn't speak to reporters Monday as the coaching staff tried to make up for lost time in a short week. The players resume practice Tuesday, their normal off day.

''I couldn't be more happy for the coaching staff and all those players,'' Clausen said. ''It's been a real tough season for everybody.''

Clausen had lost his previous starts as he struggled to adjust to the speed of the NFL. Teammate Steve Smith lashed out at him a week earlier saying, ''He ain't at Notre Dame anymore, that's for sure.''

Clausen was far from spectacular and hardly quelled the talk of Stanford's Andrew Luck replacing him next year if he leaves school early and Carolina has the No. 1 draft pick. The Panthers hold a one-game ''lead'' over Cincinnati (3-11) and Denver (3-11) for the worst record.

But after extending his streak to 202 passes since his lone touchdown, Clausen connected with tight end Jeff King for a 16-yard score to give Carolina a 13-0 second-quarter lead. He completed 13 of 19 passes for only 141 yards, but didn't commit a turnover as the Panthers leaned on their running game and defense.

Jonathan Stewart rushed for 137 yards and Arizona was held to 43 yards rushing. Tyler Brayton, fined $15,000 last week for leveling an Atlanta special teams player on the sideline a week earlier, knocked down a third-down pass at the goal line and recovered a fumble.

It was, for a day, a signature Fox-coached performance that even included his textbook conservative play down the stretch to hold on. It was the style he immediately installed when he inherited a 1-15 team in 2002 and had the Panthers in the Super Bowl a year later.

Now wherever Fox ends up next year, he'll have a winning overall record as a head coach.

''I don't know what is down the road yet other than going to Pittsburgh on Thursday and finishing up in Atlanta,'' Fox said. ''It was fun to finish with a win here. It's been a tough season for all of our fans, our organization, everyone in the locker room.''