Delhomme throws three interceptions in Panthers 20-9 loss

The Buffalo Bills proved a team can trail badly in nearly every statistical category and still win the game.

Jairus Byrd had two interceptions, Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t make a big mistake in his first start at quarterback and the Bills took advantage of Carolina’s miscues to beat the Panthers, 20-9, on Sunday.

Buffalo won despite being outgained 425-167. Carolina led in first downs 20-9 and held the ball for nearly 35 minutes. But Jake Delhomme was intercepted three times, Kenny Moore fumbled a punt, John Kasay missed two field goal attempts, and the Panthers (2-4) saw their two-game winning streak snapped.

Byrd, a rookie, had two interceptions to set up touchdowns as Buffalo (3-4) won road games in consecutive weeks for the first time since 2004.

Delhomme, who entered the game tied with New York Jets rookie Mark Sanchez for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions, was way off again. But he had help in a day of ineptitude.

Fitzpatrick was far from stellar in completing 11 of 22 passes for 123 yards as he filled in for Trent Edwards (concussion). But he didn’t throw an interception and withstood heavy pressure all day to give Buffalo a chance to take advantage of another miserable day by Delhomme.

Byrd continued his torrid stretch — he has five interceptions in three games. The second one Sunday, coming after Carolina’s Steve Smith deflected the pass, was returned to the Buffalo 27. Fitzpatrick then split two defenders to find Lee Evans for a 2-yard touchdown and a 14-2 lead early in the fourth quarter.

At that point the Bills were being outgained 333-95.

Byrd had an easy interception of a badly overthrown ball in the first quarter and returned it to the Carolina 7. Two plays later, Marshawn Lynch barely was touched on a 7-yard run for a 7-0 lead.

Carolina got within 17-9 after Delhomme found Smith for 48 yards on fourth down, then DeAngelo Williams scrambled 15 yards for a touchdown on another fourth down.

The Panthers got the ball back with more than 5 minutes remaining, but Moore — who had replaced the injured Captain Munnerlyn — fumbled the punt return. Derek Fine recovered for Buffalo at the 20, redemption for a Bills team that has lost two games with the help of special teams miscues.

The defense kept Carolina in it, getting its second safety in three games when Hollis Thomas led a swarm of players to tackle Fred Jackson in the end zone to make it 7-2 at halftime.

The Panthers, without linebacker Thomas Davis (knee), also harassed Fitzpatrick, who badly underthrew Terrell Owens on what would’ve been a touchdown. His young offensive line gave him little time to throw.

It didn’t matter, because the Panthers kept self-destructing. Coach John Fox decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Buffalo 13 early in the third quarter, but Paul Posluszny stuffed Jonathan Stewart for a 2-yard loss.

Buffalo entered with the NFL’s worst rushing defense, were without both starting safeties because of injury, and lost starting defensive tackle Kyle Williams (knee) early in the first quarter.