Charlotte, N.C. (ap) — By running over, around and through one of the league’s top defenses, the Carolina Panthers staked their claim as one of the NFL’s top teams.

DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart proved a dominating tandem, and the Panthers seized control of the competitive NFC South with a 38-23 victory over Tampa Bay on Monday night.

Williams rushed for a career-high 186 yards and two touchdowns, Stewart added 115 yards and two more scores and the Panthers set a team record for yards rushing for the second time in a month.

And this time it was against the NFL’s fourth-rated defense that came in having allowed only one rushing TD all season.

The Panthers (10-3) avenged their worst loss of the season and grabbed the top spot in the division, moving one game ahead of the Buccaneers (9-4).

“People remember what you do in December,” Panthers coach John Fox said. “This was a big stage and I like the way our guys met that challenge.”

The Monday nighter featuring the top teams in the NFC South was billed as a chance for the division to emerge from the shadow of the tough NFC East.

The overlooked contenders played even through three quarters, before the Panthers wore down the Buccaneers’ highly regarded defense in the final period behind their emerging stars in the backfield.

“Those guys are that good,” said coach Jon Gruden, whose Bucs had their four-game winning streak snapped.