Panthers-Saints Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Countdown Daily Recap: Panthers-Saints

SCOUTING REPORT

Panthers-Saints: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Panthers-Saints matchup. 1. Carolina needs to run the ball: It's hardly a secret that the Panthers have one of the strongest running back tandems in the NFL with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart sharing the load. Against what has been one of the stingiest run defenses in the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals, last Sunday, both backs averaged in excess of 5 yards per carry and Carolina put up 270 yards on the ground. New Orleans' defense is improved over last year but as was evidenced Monday night, when the Falcons' Michael Turner averaged 7.6 yards per carry while gaining 151 yards, the Saints can be run on.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
CAR	4-6	193	239	2-3	2-3	2-2	4-4
NOR	10-0	369	204	5-0	5-0	3-0	7-0
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Carolina Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Delhom... 57.1 1885 8 14 Moore 50.0 63 0 1

New Orleans Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Brees 68.1 2746 22 9

Carolina Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Willia... 181 982 5.4 7 Stewar... 110 509 4.6 6

New Orleans Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Thomas 105 584 5.6 5 Bell 115 514 4.5 4

Carolina Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Smith 45 599 13.3 4 Muhamm... 33 337 10.2 0

New Orleans Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Colsto... 44 687 15.6 6 Hender... 31 521 16.8 1

Full Player Stats: Carolina | New Orleans

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	CAR	336.0
	NOR	421.0
Yards Passing	CAR	177.3
	NOR	266.2
Yards Rushing	CAR	159.1
	NOR	154.3
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	CAR	315.7
	NOR	330.6
Pass Yds Allowed	CAR	185.0
	NOR	214.9
Rush Yds Allowed	CAR	130.7
	NOR	115.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Carolina leads 10-7
Dec 28, 2008	CAR 33, NOR 31
Oct 19, 2008	CAR 30, @NOR 7
Nov 25, 2007	CAR 6, @NOR 31
Oct 7, 2007	CAR 16, NOR 13
Dec 31, 2006	CAR 31, NOR 21
Oct 1, 2006	CAR 21, @NOR 18
Dec 18, 2005	CAR 27, NOR 10
Sep 11, 2005	CAR 20, @NOR 23
Jan 2, 2005	CAR 18, @NOR 21
Dec 5, 2004	CAR 32, NOR 21
Oct 26, 2003	CAR 23, NOR 20
Oct 5, 2003	CAR 19, @NOR 13
Dec 29, 2002	CAR 10, NOR 6
Nov 10, 2002	CAR 24, @NOR 34
Dec 2, 2001	CAR 23, NOR 27
Oct 14, 2001	CAR 25, @NOR 27

Outstanding play at the Superdome has helped Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints match the best start in their history. The Carolina Panthers certainly haven't minded playing there, either.

The Saints have a chance to go 8-0 for the first time Sunday, but they'll have to find a way to snap a seven-game home losing streak to a Panthers team that is hitting its stride.

Four of New Orleans' wins have been at the Superdome, where it is beating opponents by an average of 15.3 points. The Saints matched the best start in franchise history with a 35-27 home win over Atlanta on Monday night.

Only the 1991 Saints started a season with seven straight victories.

"I think our best is yet to come," said Brees, who leads an offense that is averaging an NFL-best 39.0 points per game.

Brees passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns versus the Falcons. He has completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 1,225 yards and 12 TDs with two interceptions at home this season, but has lost all three of his games there against Carolina (3-4).

Brees' four TD passes at home versus the Panthers on Dec. 28 weren't enough. John Kasay made a 42-yard field goal with 1 second left as Carolina won 33-31 to set a franchise record with 12 victories.

It was the Panthers' seventh straight win at New Orleans since a 27-23 loss Dec. 2, 2001. Carolina is averaging 27.0 points in the last six games during that streak.

The Panthers enter this contest having won three of four, beating Arizona 34-21 last Sunday, but this will be their toughest test so far.

New Orleans has complemented Brees with a strong running game and an opportunistic defense.

Pierre Thomas rushed for a score and caught a TD pass against Atlanta. Thomas, Mike Bell and Reggie Bush have each gotten at least 47 carries for a running game that is ranked fourth in the NFL, averaging 153.3 yards a contest.

The Saints have given up an average of 29.3 points in their last three games after surrendering a total of 17 in their previous two, but their secondary continues to make big plays.

Jabari Greer returned an interception for a 48-yard score Monday night after getting burned for a deep TD. It was New Orleans' fifth touchdown on an interception this season, tying the franchise record set in 1998.

Darren Sharper picked off his seventh pass, giving the Saints 16 overall. They have at least one INT in every game.

"The way we've been able to (get turnovers) and score is a big reason we're where we're at right now," coach Sean Payton said.

Panthers quarterback and New Orleans native Jake Delhomme has thrown an NFL-worst 13 interceptions, but he's coming off his first turnover-free game.

Delhomme threw his first TD pass to a wide receiver this season, a 50-yarder to Steve Smith, and managed the game well as Carolina relied on a dominant running game versus the Cardinals.

Delhomme left the game after getting hit in the chest while throwing a pass in the third quarter, but a CT scan showed no internal injuries and he hasn't missed any practice time.

The veteran, who began his career with New Orleans, is 5-0 with a 104.7 passer rating in road games against the Saints, throwing five TDs with one interception. Delhomme completed 70.0 percent (14 for 20) of his passes for 250 yards and a TD in last December's game at New Orleans.

DeAngelo Williams rushed for 178 yards and Jonathan Stewart added 56 for the Panthers in that contest. The duo combined for 245 yards and two scores versus Arizona, which entered with the NFL's No. 1 ranked rushing defense.

Carolina is averaging 217.6 yards rushing in its last three games after failing to reach 100 in three of its first four.

"I think we've run the ball pretty effectively over the last month," coach John Fox said. "That's not the area we've been concerned with."

Turnovers had been Fox's main concern, but Delhomme's last performance was promising. Fox is also getting spectacular play from defensive end Julius Peppers, who was criticized for his slow start.

Peppers had a leaping interception that he returned 13 yards for a TD last week, and had his sixth sack in four games.

"All of the naysayers and people that are saying this and that about Julius Peppers, well you can say what you want about him, but we love him," linebacker Thomas Davis said.

Patriots Mailbag: Early thoughts on Pats-Saints

This week's Pats mailbag takes and early look at Monday's huge Pats-Saints game.

Joyner: Week 12 pickups

You never know when an injury or a slump will doom you, so you better have depth.

Patriots have one last chance for signature win

Monday's meeting with Saints gives Patriots last shot at signature win.

'Messed-up hand' limits Panthers DE Peppers

Julius Peppers' hand is a touchy subject in the secretive world of NFL injuries. Coach John Fox would only call it a "messed-up hand."

Panthers become big losers - of excess weight

There's much less to see when you look at the Carolina Panthers' sideline these days.

Moore making most of shot with Panthers

The Panthers' Kenny Moore, shown with students at First Ward Elementary School on March 10, is among the candidates to enter the season as the team's No.

New fullback has Hoover a bit on edge

When it comes to locker room grief, Carolina Panthers fullback Brad Hoover gives it as well as anyone.

Brown's focus is on technique

If the Carolina Panthers were truly worried about Everette Brown's size, they wouldn't be lining him up the way they are.

Hoover doesn't plan to go without a fight

Brad Hoover was walking off the practice field Monday shortly after beating most of his Carolina Panthers teammates in a series of sprints when he told a reporter he couldn't talk until later.

More clarity is the positive that should come from StarCaps case

From the beginning it has been an uphill battle for NFL players involved in the StarCaps case, a list that includes Saints defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith and former Saints running back Deuce McAllister.

Saints continues amazing sell out run

Hurricane Katrina's devastation couldn't stem the tide of Saints fans ready to buy tickets when the NFL team returned in 2006 - and neither has the national recession.

StarCaps case likely a no-win for Grant, Smith

Though the StarCaps case has yet to be resolved, it appears Saints defensive ends Will Smith and Charles Grant are only delaying the inevitable, according to two leading authorities on sports law.

'Bring 'Em in'

At the conclusion of an organized team activity last week, Saints running back Pierre Thomas fired off a spirited message to management.

New Orleans Saints position series: Return specialists

We've come to the final spot in our position-by-position breakdown of the New Orleans Saints' roster, which is a little ironic since these guys probably should have kicked things off.