This is when they've always been their best. But you wonder at the moment if the last six weeks are going to matter for the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross broke his right leg, not his ankle, as the team first announced.

Offensive linemen Travelle Wharton, Jermon Bushrod, and Donald Penn were not first-round draft picks, but they have proved to be capable left tackles for their respective teams.

In a perfect world, the Carolina Panthers obviously would prefer to run more. Panthers coach John Fox said Friday he was far more concerned about the team's continued red-zone problems than the lack of a consistent running attack.

It's been an issue that continues to plague the Carolina Panthers. Carolina's kickoff coverage teams came into Thursday night's game ranked dead last in the league allowing an average of 30.6 yards per return.

When the Carolina Panthers host the Miami Dolphins Thursday night, the Bentley College campus in Waltham, Mass., will be buzzing.

QUARTERBACK Grade: D plus Comment: Jake Delhomme struggled for much of the game, but battled back strong late in the fourth quarter, including a 27-yard TD pass to Steve Smith.

Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart, top, is lifted by Mackenzy Bernadeau, bottom, as teammate Travelle Wharton, left, helps celebrate Stewart's touchdown run against the Atlanta Falcons in the second half of the Panthers' 28-19 win in Regular Photo Size

Baby steps, folks. The good news is Delhomme hasn't thrown an interception in three games after throwing 13 in his first six.

MIAMI At CAROLINA 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network OPENING LINE - Panthers by 3 RECORD VS.

If there is one thing that a quarterback needs to run the no-huddle offense, it is confidence.

Before the end of the week, and more than halfway through the 2009 season, the Carolina Panthers may have climbed back to .500. They took another step in their rebound from an 0-3 start on Sunday with a 28-19 win over NFC South rival Atlanta at Bank of America Stadium.

Jordan Gross of the Carolina Panthers poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in Charlotte, North Carolina.

DeAngelo Williams led a revival of Carolina's rushing attack, and now the Panthers have a two-game winning streak.

CHARLOTTE Maybe they're just slow starters. How else do you explain the play of Carolina's offensive line this season, which is perhaps the most perplexing and most disappointing aspect of this 1-3 football team through the first quarter of the season.

CHARLOTTE The Carolina Panthers' formula for rebound from a slow start this season isn't a secret.

GAME: Washington at Carolina SITE: Bank of America Stadium CAPACITY: 73,778 KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. TV: FOX SERIES HISTORY: 9th regular-season meeting.

Even after it was his idea, Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams had to sit and watch other players steal his thunder last weekend.

Though Jake Delhomme has just two touchdown passes and seven interceptions, he'll remain winless Carolina's starting quarterback.

Brown, the rookie defensive end who was the Panthers' top pick this spring, will have a key role against the Eagles, whether he plays defense or not.