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If the NFL were a stock market, there would be a run on the Carolina Panthers when trading opened Monday morning.
The Panthers had a blue-chip Saturday night exhibition at Bank of America Stadium, thrashing the listless Washington Redskins 47-3.
Carolina set a franchise preseason scoring record, breaking the mark set in a 34-7 win against the New York Giants in 1996.
They tied that record in the first half, then surpassed it early in the third quarter before the starters left the game.
It was a smashing dress rehearsal for the first-teamers, who won't play much in Thursday's exhibition finale at Pittsburgh.
“The ball definitely bounced our way tonight,” coach John Fox said. “The guys executed well.”
The defense, led by a rejuvenated Julius Peppers, was overpowering.
The running game, featuring electrifying runs by first-round draft pick Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, has rarely looked better.
Even receiver Dwayne Jarrett, coming off a disappointing rookie season, had the best moments of his brief NFL career.
By halftime, Carolina's starters led 34-0 and had outgained the Redskins 303 yards to 49.
Williams and first-round pick Stewart were fantastic, alternating possessions in what could be a prelude to how they'll be used once the regular season begins.
Williams had nine carries for 101 yards, and Stewart 10 had runs for 100 yards.
Both had long-distance touchdowns in the second quarter.
Stewart's came first on a 50-yard romp-and-stomp down the left sideline, during which he displayed power, breakaway speed and balance. He was tripped up by a Redskins defender inside the 20, stumbled briefly, but regained his body control to score.
Williams answered on the next offensive possession with a 60-yarder. He ran up the middle, slipped three tackles and then outran cornerback Shawn Springs into the end zone.
Fox praised Stewart's performance and said the Panthers would soon begin looking at him again as a kickoff returner.
After four years of waiting to have a running game that would at least resemble the Stephen Davis-led attack of 2003, the Panthers seem to have a formidable one-two combination and an offensive line capable of blowing open holes for them.
Carolina's defense held the Redskins to three first downs in the first half and forced two fumbles, both recovered by Peppers.
Peppers also caused the first fumble, bullying Washington left tackle Chris Samuel backward and into quarterback Jason Campbell to jar the ball loose.
Four defensive linemen had sacks – Peppers, Damione Lewis, Charles Johnson and Tyler Brayton. That must have delighted Fox, especially after the team totaled a mere 23 sacks all of last season.
Quarterback Jake Delhomme started slow, but finished strong. He completed 11 of 19 passes for 159 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He drilled a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dante Rosario with 56 seconds left in the first half, then connected with Steve Smith on a 24-yard score early in the third quarter.
Smith scored earlier on an 8-yard run after scooping up a fumble by Williams.
Jarrett had four catches for 40 yards, capitalizing on extra playing time made possible because receivers Muhsin Muhammad (ribs), D.J. Hackett (toe) and Ryne Robinson (knee) missed the game because of injuries.
Kicker John Kasay looked regular-season ready with four field goals, hitting from 29, 28, 52 and 29 yards.
It was a dreadful performance for the Redskins under first-year coach Jim Zorn. Their night to forget also included a knee injury to defensive end Jason Taylor, a former all-pro recently obtained in a trade from the Miami Dolphins.
Taylor suffered what was described as a sprained knee in the first quarter and didn't return.
Campbell played the first half and was 6-of-10 passing for 39 yards.
Charles Chandler: (704) 358-5123.
