Cards notebook: Johnson involved in 2 key miscues

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Two special-teams plays cost the Cardinals four crucial points, the margin of the Carolina Panthers' 27-23 win Sunday.

Dirk Johnson was in the middle of both of them.

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On fourth-and-15 at the Panthers 21-yard line late in the first half, Neil Rackers lined up for a 39-yard field goal. If he made it, the Cardinals likely would have led 13-3 at halftime.

Instead they tried a fake, with Johnson, the holder, passing to tight end Jerame Tuman. Tuman was open, but he never reached the first-down marker, in part because Johnson was slow to get him the ball. Panthers defensive back Charles Godfrey tackled Tuman well short of the first down.

"I should have got it there quicker," said Johnson, also the punter.

But Tuman was so open, Johnson said he wanted to be sure not to overthrow the pass.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt acknowledged that, 15 yards out from a first down, "Maybe that was a little bit long to run that fake field goal," but that Tuman appeared so wide open he might have scored a touchdown.

"If we had thrown it out there a little bit quicker, I think he would have gotten in."

"I have no idea why they did that," Panthers defensive tackle Damione Lewis said. "But I'm thanking them.

"We got a stop. Charles Godfrey made a great play."

The Cardinals lost another point when Johnson, the holder, dropped the ball on an extra point.

That left the score 23-17 in favor of the Cardinals late in the third quarter.

"I caught it good, then I went to put it down and it slipped out of my hands," Johnson said.

Of course, the Panthers also lost four points when receiver Muhsin Muhammad dropped a touchdown pass and the Panthers had to settle for a field goal.

THE RETURN OF Q

Anquan Boldin, returning after his concussion and facial fractures, caught nine passes for 63 yards and scored two touchdowns.

He also led the Cardinals in rushing with 30 yards on an end-around.

Boldin reported no problems.

"There are no effects from the injury. I'm fine."

WHERE'S EDGE?

Edgerrin James, after suggesting he should be more involved with the offense, laid an egg.

His lost fumble, which set up the game-tying touchdown for the Panthers, was a critical mistake.

James, who was hit in the backfield on the play, said, "I never really got a chance to grab it. ... As soon as I got it, they were right there.

"But you still got to hold onto the ball, not matter what."

Whisenhunt said the Cardinals missed a blocking assignment on James' fumble, but added, "Regardless of that, we can't fumble the football."

James ran seven times for just 17 yards.

THE FAILED CHALLENGE

The Cardinals lost a crucial challenge when replays were inconclusive on whether Panthers receiver Steve Smith stepped out of bounds near the Cardinals' bench on a 65-yard touchdown pass.

Regardless, both Rod Hood and Antrel Rolle failed to either tackle Smith or knock him out of bounds as Smith tiptoed along the sideline.

"We just missed the tackle," Hood said.

Smith's touchdown put the Panthers ahead for good, 24-23, with two seconds left in the third quarter.