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Testaverde, Panthers deck Cardinals

Oct 15, 2007 - 1:34 AM GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- It never gets old for Vinny Testaverde.

The veteran quarterback found Steve Smith for a 65-yard touchdown pass to lead the Carolina Panthers to a 25-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

In doing so, Testaverde (43 years, 335 days) became the oldest starting quarterback to win an NFL game. Steve DeBerg (44 years, 279 days) in 1998, and Warren Moon (44 years, 8 days) in 2000 also started games.

In addition, Testaverde's touchdown pass gives him at least one in 21 straight seasons, extending his own NFL record.

"It means a lot to win, especially with all the challenges coming in," Testaverde said. "Other then the mental part, the physical part from taking no reps and not really running around much was the toughest."

After a defensive pass interference call gave the Panthers the ball on their 35, Testaverde found Smith streaking down the sideline with 5:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, giving the Panthers a 15-10 lead.

"When I threw the ball, I saw the defender stop and all I could think about was that I overthrew Steve," Testaverde said. "After he scored, he said to me, 'I told you, you couldn't over throw me,' and I believe him now."

Testaverde finished 20-of-33 for 206 yards and a touchdown.

"I do take a lot of pride and it is no coincidence that it was both strength coaches that called me to come back," Testaverde said. "They helped me to get to this point and be able to play at this age. Now the challenge is to do it if called upon week after week."

Panthers coach John Fox praised at Testaverde's work ethic.

"Vinny is the consummate pro," Fox said. "To be able to play at his point in life is a tribute to him taking a care of himself. It is a testament of how hard he has worked."

He completed his first eight passes, leading Carolina into scoring position. The drives bogged down, forcing the Panthers (4-2) to settle for two field goals by John Kasay and a 6-0 lead in the second quarter. Kasay added field goals of 24 and 45 yards in the second half.

Testaverde was wooed by both Carolina and Arizona this week, but opted to sign with the Panthers to be closer to his family.

"I was on my way to Arizona but after talking to my kids, I couldn't do it," he said. "It was just too far," Testaverde said. "At this point in my career, I didn't want to go without seeing my family as long as I thought I would be a way from them. That was the reason why I didn't come to the Cardinals. I would miss my family to much."

With backup quarterback David Carr hampered by a back injury suffered in last week's game against New Orleans, Testaverde earned the start.

"I tried to do everything I could to get out there today, but it just didn't work," Carr said. "Vinny moved around real good today. He looked a lot better then I did today."

Arizona (3-3), however, has quarterback issues of its own.

Starter Kurt Warner suffered a sprained left elbow after being sacked by Carolina's Julius Peppers during the first quarter.

"It was just painful," Warner said. "I have no strength in there, I couldn't really move it, so there would be no way to hold it with my left hand. I could have maybe thrown it a little but there is a lot more to the game then running back with one hand and throwing it."

Warner, 36, was replaced by Tim Rattay, who was signed this week after Matt Leinart fractured his left collarbone during last week's game against the St. Louis Rams.

"Obviously Tim wasn't comfortable with things, so we had to change our plans," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Some of the things we thought would be good for us ,we just didn't have a chance for him to do. But we had too many mistakes with penalties, dropped balls, things we haven't been doing that cost us."

Rattay, who was signed on Wednesday after helping his father coach high school football, completed 12-of-24 passes for 159 yards and three interceptions.

"Last Sunday, I was watching TV," Rattay said. "It is the first time I played a game in this stadium. It was a fun and exciting to be in a game again. Being the No. 2 guy, I thought there was a chance I might get to play some."

Edgerrin James gave the Cardinals a 7-6 edge after a 23-yard touchdown run with 7:16 in the second quarter. The run was the longest by James since September 19, 2004, when he raced 30 yards for a score as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

After Kasay's third field goal gave the Panthers a 9-6 edge, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's 36-yard reception which set up Neil Rackers' 50-yard field goal.

But Carolina put the game away in the fourth quarter.

DeAngelo Williams added a 13-yard scoring run with 2:07 remaining for Carolina, which has outscored its opponents, 57-9, in the fourth quarter.