GREEN BAY, Wis. -- DeAngelo Williams didn't much care that his streak of 100-yard rushing games came to an end on Sunday.
That's because the Panthers running back found the end zone four times -- including the game-winner with 1:30 remaining -- as Carolina escaped Green Bay with a wild 35-31 win over the Packers in front 70,297 fans at Lambeau Field.
After Williams' fourth 1-yard TD, Panthers linebacker Jon Beason sealed the win and capped a stellar individual game with an interception of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
"I think it showed a lot about our football team, Carolina coach John Fox said. "We stressed all week about starting fast. I thought we started fast and I think we were able to finish fast too, which I think is critical."
"This isn't the easiest place in the National Football League to play. That's a good football team, and we were able to get out of here with a tight win."
That was no understatement.
Green Bay had two chances to take a 35-28 lead from the Panthers' 1 late in the game, but Carolina's defense, which struggled to stop anything in the second half, came up with two huge plays to keep the Packers out of the end zone and force Green Bay into a field goal to make it 31-28 with 1:57 left.
"We're a confident group, confident team, and we really believe in the guy next to us and we knew if we stayed the course and keep punching something would give," said Beason, who had a team-high nine tackles. "Holding them to three was huge."
After Green Bay went ahead, Mark Jones immediately gave Carolina a boost with a kickoff return to the 45-yard line. On the next play, Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme hit Steve Smith on a 54-yard strike down to the Packers' 1, and Williams capped the drive on the next play.
"It was a great throw by Jake. He felt comfortable enough throwing me the ball. The offensive line did a great job blocking it up," said Smith, who had four catches for 105 yards. "I just had to catch the ball and DeAngelo ran it in. ... My job is to catch the ball, so that's what I did."
Smith's catch was a little more than just routine, however, as he beat double coverage on the play.
"Every good football team has great players, and he's one of ours. He's an extremely competitive guy and he's been making plays like that around here since I've been here," Fox said.
Everything was bouncing Carolina's way in the first half.
A bad shotgun snap set the Panthers up with a short field, and they took advantage as Williams scampered in four plays later for a 21-10 halftime lead.
The Panthers also caught a break on their second touchdown drive. Rookie running back Jonathan Stewart broke free for what appeared to be an easy romp into the end zone. But Stewart pulled up with what Fox said was a cramp around the 20-yard line and was caught from behind by Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who stripped the ball at the 2. Panthers left guard Travelle Wharton was trailing the play and recovered for Carolina.
Two plays later, Delhomme was able to bootleg in for a 1-yard score.
Green Bay rallied in the second half behind Rodgers, who led the Packers to 18 unanswered points and a 28-21 lead early in the fourth quarter on a touchdown pass to Greg Jennings with 13:43 left. But Carolina answered on the next drive thanks to a pass interference penalty that negated what would have been a Delhomme interception and a 36-yard toss to Smith to once again get Williams in position to score.
Carolina 7 14 0 14 -- 35
Green Bay 0 10 11 10 -- 31
Car--Williams 1 run (Kasay kick).
GB--FG Crosby 32.
Car--Delhomme 1 run (Kasay kick).
GB--Driver 6 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick).
Car--Williams 1 run (Kasay kick).
GB--FG Crosby 44.
GB--D.Lee 5 pass from Rodgers (Jennings pass from Rodgers).
GB--Jennings 21 pass from Rodgers (Crosby kick).
Car--Williams 1 run (Kasay kick).
GB--FG Crosby 19.
Car--Williams 1 run (Kasay kick).
A--70,297.
Carolina Green Bay
First downs 15 25
Total Net Yards 300 438
Rushes-yards 27-130 29-145
Passing 170 293
Punt Returns 4-46 3-23
Kickoff Returns 5-163 5-92
Interceptions Ret. 1-0 0-0
Comp-Att-Int 12-17-0 29-45-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-7 2-5
Punts 6-46.2 4-43.8
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards 2-12 8-49
Time of Possession 22:08 37:52
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING--Carolina, Williams 21-72, Stewart 4-58, Delhomme 2-0. Green Bay, Jackson 11-80, Grant 12-39, Rodgers 5-26, Kuhn 1-0.
PASSING--Carolina, Delhomme 12-17-0-177. Green Bay, Rodgers 29-45-1-298.
RECEIVING--Carolina, Smith 4-105, Williams 3-14, Muhammad 2-50, King 1-9, Stewart 1-3, Goings 1-(minus 4). Green Bay, Jennings 8-91, Driver 5-83, D.Lee 4-37, Martin 4-32, Nelson 2-28, Jones 2-12, Hall 2-9, Jackson 1-6, Finley 1-0.
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