PHILADELPHIA -- It instantly became the defining run of a defining game in the history of the Arizona Cardinals.

When Cardinals rookie running back David Johnson took a stretch play right, broke up field and went headfirst into a pile of offensive and defensive linemen, it seemed impossible he'd break through. But Johnson emerged on the other side, broke four more tackles -- the last on a stiff arm -- for a 47-yard touchdown to break a 10-10 game and ignite the Cardinals en route to a 40-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“Grown-man run,” quarterback Carson Palmer said.

It was the type of run that can make good teams great. It was the type of run that can win teams a championship.

On a cold night in Philadelphia in front of a national TV audience, it could’ve been easy for Johnson’s run and career game to get lost in the shuffle of records. The Cardinals clinched their first NFC West championship since 2009 in historic fashion.

They set a franchise record for most wins in a season with 12.

They set a franchise record for most points in a season with 445.

They won their eighth-straight game, the first time the Cardinals accomplished that feat since the 1948-49 season.

Palmer set a career high for passing yards in a season with 4,277 and tied his career high of 32 touchdown passes.

Normally such a historic day for a franchise would lead to a rowdy celebration inside the locker room. The division title, the records, the history -- that’s not Arizona’s goal this season, coach Bruce Arians said.

“There’s not a lot of whooping and hollering in the locker room right now because that’s not the final [goal],” he said. “It’s just the beginning.”

Then there was Johnson’s night.

Arizona’s third-round pick set career highs in rushing yards in a game (187), rushing touchdowns (three) and carries (29). On the 14-yard run that helped him eclipse 100 yards for the first time in his career, he suffered a right-knee injury. He left the game and didn’t return until the second half. Johnson said not going down or getting out of bounds was a mistake. But like his physical game, his mental game is growing weekly.

“He’s a very mature young guy,” Arians said. “We don’t consider him a rookie anymore. Very talented young man. We knew that he was going to have a breakout game.

“We felt we could get him the ball.”

By making Johnson the focal point of their offense Sunday night, the Cardinals affirmed he isn’t just a running back who can carry them to a division title. Johnson can run put the Cardinals on his back for a deep run into January -- and maybe even February.

Johnson’s performance Sunday was all the proof Palmer needed.

“I think that answers that question,” he said.

Another question was answered Sunday.

“When everybody thought we couldn’t run the ball when Chris Johnson went down ... yeah, Chris Johnson was a hell of a back and he made a lot of the things go in the run game, but the O-line, we had something to do with that,” right tackle Bobby Massie said. “We just get on our guys and he finds the hole and he hits it.”

David Johnson’s growth as a running back was exhibited all night.

“He’s becoming more patient and lets the blocks develop,” Massie added. “When the hole’s there, he’s starting to hit it.”

But left guard Mike Iupati doesn’t see David Johnson thinking before he runs.

“He just goes,” Iupati said. “I think that’s really good for him. Rookies tend to don’t think, just run. But he’s doing great.”

In his third game as Arizona’s featured back, Johnson ran for the fifth-most yards in a game in franchise history. He helped win them a division. He set career marks.

And he’s still getting better.

“I just can’t get complacent -- always got to learn,” Johnson said. “I know I missed a couple of holes and I know I had a couple of [mental errors], so I’ve got to continue to get better. These last two games are going to be really big for us.”

They’re not the only ones.