Panthers No. 6 In rushing -- and going higher?

Panthers No. 6 In rushing -- and going higher?

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2008/11/panthers-no-6-i.html

After gaining a team single-game record of 264 yards on the ground in yesterday's win over Detroit, the Panthers have moved up to sixth in the NFL in rushing.

This follows precisely the pattern that was expected during the bye week -- that Carolina would load up on rushing yardage against Oakland and Detroit in back-to-back weeks because those teams have struggled all season to defend the run.

The Lions are now last (32nd) in the NFL vs. the run and Oakland is 30th. The Panthers also had a big day rushing against the No. 31 team, Kansas City.

Carolina's success isn't a fluke, however. The Panthers want to be good against the run and have a nice pair of running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, plus a physical offensive line that was designed for strong run blocking.

There could be more big running days ahead. Though the Panthers play only teams with .500 records or better in the final six games, only one of them ranks in the top 10 in the league vs. the run, and three are in the bottom 11.

Here are how the defenses of the Panthers' next six opponents rank in run defense: Atlanta 22nd, Green Bay 28th, Tampa Bay 12th, Denver 26th, the New York Giants 8th, and New Orleans 19th.

-- Charles Chandler