Smith loses cool in 3rd quarter; Panthers lose to Cowboys

Steve Smith successfully kept his temper in check through 14 games this season. When he finally erupted, it came at the worst possible time for the Carolina Panthers.

Smith was ejected in the third quarter of Saturday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys for grabbing an official. He then had to watch from the locker room as the Cowboys rallied to a 24-20 victory that put the Panthers’ postseason plans on hold.

Smith was thrown out after he was tackled out of bounds by Terence Newman. He claimed he was hit a second time out of bounds and immediately began yelling at line judge Mark Steinkerchner. He then placed his arms around the official, and was instantly called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty and ejected.

“I got hit out of bounds a little late, and as I was trying to get up, someone pushes me back down,” Smith said. “I grabbed the ref and said, ‘Hey did you see that?’

“You’re not supposed to touch a ref, I understand that. I wasn’t doing it to put him down.”

Dallas safety Roy Williams said it was Smith’s mouth – not hands – that got him thrown out.

“He said some harsh words to the ref,” Williams said. “The ref didn’t like it, and he got ejected, plain and simple.”

Rivera’s consecutive game streak snapped

Dallas right guard Marco Rivera sat out the game against Carolina, ending his streak of 113 consecutive starts. Rivera’s streak was actually at 120 including playoffs.

Rivera strained his neck in last week’s loss to Washington when he was flipped over and landed on his head. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher.

The Cowboys started center Andre Gurode in his place.

Anderson tops 1,000 yards, then twists ankle

Denver running back Mike Anderson twisted his left ankle after topping 1,000 yards for the season and sat out the second half against Oakland.

Anderson carried 10 times for 46 yards and a score. His final carry was for 11 yards just before halftime, when he was tackled by defensive back Stanford Routt.

With 1,014 yards, Anderson surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second time in his career – a successful return after missing all of last year with a torn groin. He missed all of last year with a torn groin.

Around the league

Washington quarterback Mark Brunell left the Redskins’ victory over the New York Giants with a sprained ligament in his right knee and could miss next weekend’s regular-season finale. Later in the third quarter, New York middle linebacker Chase Blackburn was carted off the field and taken for X-rays after spraining his neck. … Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair left the Titans’ game against Miami in the second quarter with a strained pectoral muscle. … NFL interception leader Deltha O’Neal of Cincinnati hurt his right knee on the first defensive play against Buffalo. … Houston running back Domanick Davis was inactive for the Texans’ game against Jacksonville because of inflammation in his knee. Texans defensive end Gary Walker left the game on the Jaguars’ first play from scrimmage after injuring his right triceps.