• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Injury-ravaged Broncos brace for Carolina's dynamic duo

Dec 9, 2008 - 11:41 PM Denver (8-5) at Carolina (10-3) 4:15 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The once running-back rich Denver Broncos can't seem to keep any of their tailbacks healthy. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers' running game is starting to look Bronco-esque.

The duo of Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams looks to run over the defenseless Broncos on Sunday in a key interconference matchup.

The Broncos (8-5) have consistently churned out 1,000-yard rushers with their zone-blocking scheme for better part of a decade. However, Denver has been transformed into a pass-first offense due to a rash of injuries - it has five running backs on injured reserve.

Rookie Peyton Hillis, a converted fullback, is the latest to go down. Hillis had been outstanding, having scored five touchdown in four starts before tearing his hamstring in a 24-17 win over Kansas City last week.

Hillis joins Michael Pittman, Andre Hall, Ryan Torain and Anthony Alridge on the sidelines. The opening week starter, Selvin Young, has just one carry in the last two months due to a groin injury.

"He brings a lot of energy to the table to it's tough to lose a guy like that," Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said of Hillis.

Hillis' injury leaves Tatum Bell as the only healthy tailback on the roster. Bell rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries after Hillis was hurt Sunday.

Denver's second-round pick in 2004 and a 1,000-yard rusher in 2006, Bell was re-signed by the club on November. After Bell was released by Detroit in the preseason, he was accused of stealing luggage from fellow running back Rudi Johnson.

"When he's got his opportunity to play, he's played well," Shanahan said. "I've been pleased with him."

Despite the injuries, the Broncos can clinch the AFC West with a win or a loss by the San Diego Chargers (5-8) to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jay Cutler threw for 286 yards, including a go-ahead TD to Brandon Marshall early in the fourth quarter in the win over the Chiefs.

The Broncos will probably be envious when they look across the field at the "Smash and Dash" tandem of Williams and Stewart, who combined to run for a franchise-record 299 yards in a 38-23 win over Tampa Bay on "Monday Night Football."

Williams rushed for a career-high 186 yards and a pair of scores while Stewart piled up 115 yards and two scores. It was the second time in three weeks that the tandem set a franchise record - they ran for 264 yards in a 31-22 win over Detroit in Week 11.

"The O-line and the fullback did an outstanding job blocking for us today," Williams said. "They did an outstanding job getting us to the second level."

"It's kind of what we're built around," Panthers head coach John Fox said. "I think we got bigger and more physical up front and both of those back are pretty special."

The Panthers now control their own destiny. If they win out, they will have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The key game, though, is on December 21 when they visit the New York Giants (11-2) in prime time.