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GLENDALE, Ariz. – DeAngelo Williams made history for himself Sunday in the Carolina Panthers' 34-21 victory against the Arizona Cardinals in University of Phoenix Stadium.
Not that he knew about it, or even especially cared.
Asked about passing DeShaun Foster to become the franchise's all-time leading rusher with his 158 yards on 23 carries Sunday, Williams professed ignorance.
"Did I?" he said. "Oh."
Williams has now rushed for 3,352 yards in four seasons – 16 more than the 3,336 yards gained by Foster from 2002-'07.
"The only stat I care about is we won 34-21," Williams said, laughing. "I'm just trying to win football games. I don't even know how many yards I got or how many carries. None of that."
It's the second time in three games that Williams has rushed for 100-plus yards and he's now got 619 for the season. He established himself as one of the league's top backs last season, when ran for 1,515 yards, ranked third in the NFL.
The Panthers gashed the Cardinals for 270 yards, second highest in team history. They also got 87 yards and two touchdowns from Jonathan Stewart, the other half of the Panthers' running back tandem nicknamed "Double Trouble."
"I'm part of that too," joked Stewart. "But (Williams) has been running his butt off. He's got to keep on trucking."
Having Williams and Stewart run effectively and often (Carolina had 44 rushing attempts, 15 passes) is central to the Panthers' offensive blue print.
"We run the ball," said Williams. "That's what we do. That's coach (John) Fox ball. But it's not the coaches who make the plays go. Each offensive play is designed to go for a touchdown; each defensive play is designed to get a sack. So it's your will against them and ours was stronger today."
He added another milestone Sunday against the Cardinals: His 77-yard run down the right sideline in the first half was a career high. His previous high was a 75-yarder in 2007, also against the Cardinals.
In that '07 game, Arizona strong safety Adrian Wilson caught Williams from behind before he could score, something Williams was teased about in the locker room.
On Sunday, Cardinals free safety Antrel Rolle tracked down Williams at the 10.
"But 21 (Rolle) had an angle," Williams said. "I almost outran him, but he dove and got me. I was close! I tried to go the distance, so I tried to cut back. "But Rolle knows the game. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and he definitely plays to his strengths."
But that run helped Williams to the top of the Panthers' all-time rushing list.
"That was only a matter of time," offensive tackle Jordan Gross said of Williams' record. "Stewart's probably going to push him from second place, though."
Panthers' all-time leading rushers
Player (Years) Yards
DeAngelo Williams (2006-09) 3,352
DeShaun Foster (2002-07) 3,336
Tshimanga Biakabutuka (1996-2001) 2,733
Stephen Davis (2003-05) 2,085
Fred Lane (1997-99) 2,001
