With Seahawks loss, Cowboys clinch first-round bye in playoffs

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Matt Moore got into the huddle late in the first half Sunday and froze.

"I just couldn't get the play out of my mouth," Moore said. "Guys were like, 'Come on! Come on!'"

Moore kept his mistakes to the huddle.

Becoming the fourth quarterback to start for the Panthers this season, Moore engineered three scoring drives in the fourth quarter and outplayed two-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck, as the Panthers stunned the Seattle Seahawks 13-10.

In a bizarre game played in a strong wind that stayed scoreless for more than three quarters, Moore didn't turn it over and the Panthers defense turned in its best performance of the season.

The victory quieted talk, at least for the moment, of coach John Fox's job security, and was a rare bright spot for a team that lost starting QB Jake Delhomme to a season-ending right elbow injury in Week 3.

"I would bet most people didn't give us a chance to win," defensive end Mike Rucker said.

Not with Moore forced into duty with Vinny Testaverde sidelined by soreness in his 44-year-old body, and with Carolina (6-8) having lost six of seven games. And not with the Seahawks (9-5) riding a five-game winning streak a week after they wrapped up the NFC West title.

"We didn't play very inspired football," Seattle coach Mike Holmgren said.

Hasselbeck's career-best season took a detour with a lackluster performance, which included a fumble with just under 2 minutes left that ended Seattle's chances.

"I don't even feel like we played a full game," Hasselbeck said. "I feel like we should go back out there and try again. It wasn't us."

They'll get to try again in the first round of the playoffs, as the loss ended Seattle's hopes for a bye.

Moore left UCLA because he lost his starting job, ended up at Oregon State and then was cut by Dallas before the season. He showed poise, if not results, early on.

In the fourth quarter, Moore led the Panthers on two field goal drives, the second ending in John Kasay's 37-yarder with 2:59 left that gave Carolina a 6-3 lead.

On the next possession, Hasselbeck fumbled on a sack by Thomas Davis and Carolina's Richard Marshall recovered. That led to DeAngelo Williams' 35-yard touchdown run with 1:20 remaining to put it away.

Moore completed 19 of 27 passes for 208 yards, wasn't sacked and did not throw an interception after coming into the game with a 21.1 passer rating in six brief appearances.

"I'm just glad I managed the game," Moore said. "I'm glad I didn't make any major mistakes."

Hasselbeck was 27-of-41 for 274 yards and was sacked three times. Seattle's only touchdown came on Hasselbeck's 15-yard pass to Deion Branch with 1 second left.

Moving the ball was difficult all day with wind gusts up to 30 mph.

The Panthers finally broke the scoreless drought with 12:18 left when Kasay kicked a wind-aided 53-yard field goal. Moore had a 13-yard pass to Steve Smith and two passes to Drew Carter totaling 18 yards on the drive.

The Seahawks seemed to wake up when they fell behind. Hasselbeck was 4-of-5 for 42 yards on the ensuing 76-yard drive that included a 24-yard pass interference penalty against Marshall.

Facing a fourth-and-1 from the Carolina 4, Holmgren put in the kicking team and Josh Brown's 22-yard field goal with 8:23 left tied it.

"I thought we came in here ready to play, but obviously we didn't," said receiver Bobby Engram, who had nine catches for 84 yards and went over 1,000 yards receiving for the season.

Seattle's dependence on the passing game backfired in the wind, as Shaun Alexander was held to 17 yards on seven carries and Seattle had only 44 yards rushing.

When it appeared Seattle was going to finally score on the first possession of the third quarter, Alexander was dropped for 6-yard loss.

"We didn't run worth a lick," Holmgren said. "We're going to keep trying. But to think we're all of a sudden going to become this power running team, I think it's a little foolish." Fox has played coy with the quarterback situation all season, but he was quick to hint that Moore would likely start Saturday night against Dallas, the team that cut him in September.

"He did a good job. He didn't hold on to the ball long," said Seahawks defensive end and NFL sacks leader Patrick Kerney, who never got to Moore. "He did a good job of mixing in screens and draws. I commend him on the job he did and their game plan."

Game notes
Seahawks S Brian Russell (abdomen) started despite missing practice last week. ... Panthers S Chris Harris tied Mark Fields' team record with his seventh forced fumble. ... New Seahawks long snapper Jeff Robinson had an error-free day a week after he replaced the erratic Boone Stutz.