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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Jake Delhomme left the Panthers' 34-21 win over the Cardinals in the fourth quarter with a chest contusion. It had nothing to do with the weight he's been carrying for the past six weeks.

The Panthers devised a simple plan to take the pressure off their struggling and oft-criticized quarterback on Sunday: run, run and run some more.

Carolina had 270 rushing yards against Arizona's top-ranked run defense — the second-highest total in franchise history — and the Panthers defense produced six turnovers in a game that brought the team full circle from last season's home playoff debacle.

"It wasn't talked about. It was understood," said running back DeAngelo Williams, who had a season-high 158 yards. "A lot of guys who played in that game know how they did us. You always have a professional dislike for every opponent you play, but there was a special emphasis on this game."

Arizona entered Sunday's game on a three-game win streak that included an impressive showing against the New York Giants. The Cards had allowed an average of 67.5 yards per game on the ground but that never deterred Carolina.

"I felt like we could make some adjustments and be pretty good," Carolina coach John Fox said.

He was right. And it was apparent immediately. Carolina opened with a 15-play, 74-yard drive that ate up half the first quarter and ended with the first of Jonathan Stewart's two touchdown runs.

Williams got the Panthers' second possession going with a 77-yard run to the Arizona 10 that Stewart finished off two plays later. After one quarter, Carolina had 116 rushing yards — nearly twice what opponents had averaged against the Cardinals over a game.

"The most disappointing thing is we could not stop what we knew they were going to do," Cardinals nose tackle Bryan Robinson said.

That reality took the Cardinals out of their offensive game plan. After Carolina struck twice, late in the second quarter — the latter on a memorable Julius Peppers 13-yard interception return — the Cards were forced into catch-up mode and the Panthers were licking their lips.

"That's exactly what we wanted them to do," said Peppers, who also had a sack, a batted pass and a forced fumble. "We've been pretty good against the pass, so the early lead gave us a chance to do what we do best: go get 'em."

On offense, the Panthers just kept pounding the ball. Carolina was particularly successful running outside against Arizona's tight-gapped line.

"They made it easy for me," Stewart said.

They also made life easy for Delhomme, who put up high school numbers: 7-of-14 for 90 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions.

"Last week was a low point," Delhomme said. "It was probably the lowest point I've ever had as a Carolina Panther. I did a lot of soul-searching and I was looking forward to getting back out there and just playing.

"I didn't prepare differently at all. It was the exact same preparation I've done since 2000, (but) my attitude was different."

The same can be said of a Panthers team that now sits at 3-4 heading to New Orleans.

"We're going to play the best team in football on Sunday," said Delhomme, who went to a hospital briefly before returning to watch Sunday's finish.

Added Williams: "It's just one week, but if we play like this, anything's possible."

Carolina 7 21 0 6—34
Arizona 7 0 7 7—21

Car—Stewart 6 run (Kasay kick), 7:22.
Ari—Stephens-Howling 14 pass from Warner (Rackers kick), :47.
Car—Stewart 10 run (Kasay kick), 14:53.
Car—Smith 50 pass from Delhomme (Kasay kick), 7:33.
Car—Peppers 13 interception return (Kasay kick), 7:28.
Ari—Patrick 1 pass from Warner (Rackers kick), 6:13.
Car—FG Kasay 35, 11:40.
Ari—Hightower 1 run (Rackers kick), 9:44.
Car—FG Kasay 31, 2:40.
A—62,031.

TEAM STATISTICS
First downs — Car 13, Ari 23
Total Net Yards — Car 355, Ari 320
Rushes-yards — Car 44-270, Ari 17-94
Passing — Car 85, Ari 226
Punt Returns — Car 3-45, Ari 4-27
Kickoff Returns — Car 4-70, Ari 4-126
Interceptions Ret. — Car 5-42, Ari 0-0
Comp-Att-Int — Car 7-15-0, Ari 27-46-5
Sacked-Yards Lost — Car 1-5, Ari 2-16
Punts — Car 6-47.0, Ari 4-52.5
Fumbles-Lost — Car 0-0, Ari 2-1
Penalties-Yards — Car 7-72, Ari 5-35
Time of Possession — Car 32:58, Ari 27:02

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING
Carolina — D.Williams 23-158, Stewart 17-87, Smith 1-17, Delhomme 1-7, Hoover 1-2, M.Moore 1-(minus 1).
Arizona — B.Wells 8-47, Hightower 8-39, Warner 1-8.

PASSING
Carolina — Delhomme 7-14-0-90, M.Moore 0-1-0-0.
Arizona — Warner 27-46-5-242.

RECEIVING
Carolina — Smith 3-56, Jarrett 2-22, Barnidge 1-7, King 1-5.
Arizona — Hightower 8-57, Fitzgerald 6-66, Breaston 6-57, Boldin 3-23, Patrick 2-18, Stephens-Howling 1-14, Becht 1-7.

MISSED FIELD GOALS
None.