"In previous years, the Carolina Panthers' tailback tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart inspired a catchy nickname, prompted the launch of a website and established a single-season distinction for a backfield combination.

This year the Panthers' rushing attack has produced mostly questions, primarily this one: What's the trouble with Double Trouble?

After becoming the first teammates to rush for more than 1,100 yards apiece in 2009, Williams and Stewart won't get to 1,400 yards combined at their current pace.

The Panthers have plummeted from third in the NFL in rushing in '09 (156.1 yards per game) to 23rd this season (95.7). Neither Williams nor Stewart has a 100-yard game.

The principal reason for the rushing struggles has been well-documented: Running lanes are scarce when defenses stack extra defenders near the line of scrimmage and dare the Panthers' young quarterbacks and receivers to beat them.

Until last week, Carolina's downfield passing attack had been virtually nonexistent. But quarterback Matt Moore and rookie receivers David Gettis and Brandon LaFell connected on several big plays in a 23-20 win against San Francisco.

If those represented breakthrough performances rather than a flash-in-the-pan effort against a 1-6 49ers team, the Panthers could force teams to play them with more traditional fronts.

"Philosophically, there's no question that the running game helps set up the pass, and vice versa," Panthers coach John Fox said. "Any time you can make a defense have to defend both, it's to your advantage."

Carolina also could benefit from an upcoming, five-game stretch against teams ranked 15th or lower in the NFL in run defense. That includes a rematch with Tampa Bay, which is next to last in stopping the run but held the Panthers to 3.6 yards per carry in the Buccaneers' 20-7 win Sept. 19."