NFL: Panthers' running game keeps Lions winless 31-22

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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.

No penalty was called, and the Lions quickly folded to keep their chances of becoming the league's first winless team over 16 games.

Culpepper was intercepted by Charles Godfrey on Detroit's next possession, and Williams' 4-yard TD run came on the next play. Julius Peppers then sacked Culpepper and forced a fumble that was recovered by Carolina, sending the Lions to their 17th loss in 18 games.

Rookie Kevin Smith rushed for a career high 112 yards, while Culpepper threw for 207 yards and a touchdown, but Detroit couldn't overcome a horrid run defense.

Williams and Stewart often weren't touched until they got into the secondary. Williams had a 56-yard TD run and Stewart a 22-yard TD as Carolina recovered from a 10-0 deficit to improve to 6-0 at home.

Jake Delhomme wasn't as bad as he was last week: 7-for-27 with four interceptions and a 12.3 passer rating against Oakland. But he threw for only 98 yards.

Still, Delhomme was more than happy to hand off to his dominant backs.

It spoiled Culpepper's first regular-season game at Carolina since his career took a detour three years ago when he tore three knee ligaments on a hit from Chris Gamble while playing for Minnesota.

Culpepper was later traded to Miami, ended up in Oakland for a year, retired, then unretired last week to join the Lions after Dan Orlovsky injured his right hand.