Panthers use running game to
keep Lions winless 31-22
The one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart
dazzled with a record setting day on the ground for Carolina. The Panthers
needed all those yards to squeak by the league’s only winless team.
Stewart rushed for a career-high 130 yards and a touchdown, Williams added 120
yards and two more scores, and Panthers held off the Detroit Lions 31-22 on
Sunday.
The Panthers (8-2) won their fourth straight game by setting a team record with
264 yards rushing in the first time two of their backs rushed for over 100 yards
in the same game. Carolina surpassed last year’s win total and stayed atop the
NFC South, but it was a second consecutive sluggish performance that kept the
Lions within striking distance all day.
Daunte Culpepper, returning to the scene of his career-changing knee injury
three years ago, got the Lions (0-10) within 24-22 on his 1-yard plunge with
6:05 left. Culpepper called his own number again on the 2-point conversion try,
but was stopped short of the goal line as Jon Beason grabbed his facemask...more
Scoring Summary
DET - CAR
1st Quarter
7:23
DET
TD
Daunte Culpepper passed to Calvin Johnson down the
middle for 29 yard gain (Jason Hanson made PAT)
7 - 0
2nd Quarter
12:59
DET
FG
Jason Hanson kicked a 40-yard field goal
10 - 0
8:19
CAR
TD
Jake Delhomme passed to Jeff King down the middle for 15
yard gain (John Kasay made PAT)
10 - 7
4:43
DET
FG
Jason Hanson kicked a 56-yard field goal
13 - 7
2:39
CAR
TD
DeAngelo Williams rushed up the middle for 56 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
13 - 14
1:03
CAR
TD
Jonathan Stewart rushed to the left for 22 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
13 - 21
0:04
DET
FG
Jason Hanson kicked a 27-yard field goal
16 - 21
3rd Quarter
8:24
CAR
FG
John Kasay kicked a 29-yard field goal
16 - 24
4th Quarter
6:05
DET
TD
Daunte Culpepper rushed up the middle for 1 yard gain
(2pt attempt failed, Daunte Culpepper run up the middle)
22 - 24
4:44
CAR
TD
DeAngelo Williams rushed to the right for 4 yard gain
(John Kasay made PAT)
22 - 31
Team Statistics
DET
CAR
First Downs
20
16
Passing
10
6
Rushing
8
10
Penalty
2
0
Third Down Efficiency
6-16
2-8
Fourth Down Efficiency
2-2
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
316
362
Total Plays
72
51
Average Gain Per Play
4.4
7.1
NET YARDS RUSHING
130
264
Rushes
34
32
Average Per Rush
3.8
8.3
NET YARDS PASSING
186
98
Completions-Attempts
20-35
10-19
Yards Per Pass Play
4.9
5.2
Times Sacked
3
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
21
0
Had Intercepted
2
0
PUNTS
3
5
Average Punt
38.7
37.4
PENALTIES
1
7
Penalty Yards
14
55
FUMBLES
3
1
Fumbles Lost
2
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
34:17
25:43
Pregame Previews,
Storylines, and News
New Page 1
Preview:
Jake Delhomme's passing
numbers aren't spectacular, but
the veteran quarterback has been
mostly solid in leading the
Carolina Panthers to the top of
the NFC South. His last game,
however, was an unexpected
departure. After escaping with a
win despite a miserable
performance from Delhomme last
week, the Panthers hope to take
advantage of the winless Detroit
Lions and their weak defense as
they go for their fourth
straight victory - and sixth
straight at home - on Sunday...
Prediction: It's
not getting any easier for the winless Lions, even with a new
quarterback, Daunte Culpepper. The Panthers have won three in a
row and are unbeaten at home (5-0) That should continue this
week. History tells us Jake Delhomme (22nd in passing) will bounce back from a
nightmare against the Raiders, who picked him off
four times last week. The Lions quest for perfection
continues Sunday. Panthers 30 - Lions 10
Video Preview: The Panthers
hope to take advantage of the winless Lions and their weak defense as they go
for their fourth straight victory. Jason Horowitz and Charley Casserly take an
in depth look at this game
23.5
23.1