Hayes Steps In, Steps Up

A rare contribution from wide receiver Donald Hayes produced some infrequent results for the Carolina Panthers.

Hayes, a seldom-used second-year player from Wisconsin who was pressed into service because one of the Panthers’ wide receivers was hurt and another is in jail, had five catches for 133 yards and a touchdown as Carolina defeated the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28, Sunday night.

Hayes’ contributions helped the Panthers (5-6) win consecutive games for the first time since December 1998 and ended a losing streak at three against the Falcons (2-9).

Carolina also got 262 yards and three touchdowns passing from Steve Beuerlein and 2 1/2 sacks by Kevin Greene.

Atlanta’s Chris Chandler matched his career-high by throwing four touchdowns, but the Falcons were penalized 14 times, including four pass-interference calls that kept two of Carolina touchdown drives going.

The Falcons rallied from a 34-14 deficit on two touchdown passes by Chandler in the last 8:34, and got the ball at the Carolina 20-yard line with 2:59 left when Travis Hall recovered Tshimanga Biakabutuka’s fumble. But Greene sacked Chandler and knocked the ball loose, and Carolina’s Esera Tuaolo recovered it.

Atlanta got one last chance, starting at its 31 with 56 seconds remaining but turned over the ball on downs.

Hayes, who had only seven NFL receptions coming into the game, was a late addition to the starting lineup after leading receiver Muhsin Muhammad pulled a hamstring in pregame warmups. Another wide receiver, Rae Carruth--a 1997 first-round draft choice--was jailed Thursday on felony charges that he took part in an alleged plot to kill his pregnant girlfriend.