If the Panthers ever decide to make a coaching change, at least one other team in the NFC South will be very happy about it.
Carolina coach John Fox is 7-0 as Panthers coach in New Orleans. Jake Delhomme also has never lost a start at the Superdome. That includes his work with the Panthers since 2003, one start as a Saint in 1999 (he beat Troy Aikman), and games when he went to college at Louisiana-Lafayette.
The former Ragin' Cajun appeared to almost lose his job two weeks ago, but Fox stuck with him and the team pulled off an upset in Arizona. Fox said Wednesday he always believed Delhomme was the team's best quarterback.
"I knew he'd fight through it, and he did, " Fox said.
Delhomme and Fox will need to count on more than statistical voodoo to pull off an even bigger upset against the undefeated Saints. An improving secondary (fifth in yards per attempt allowed) will try to slow down Drew Brees. On offense, the Panthers will need DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to control the game on the ground.
Michael Turner of the Falcons exposed some "shoddy tackling" by the Saints, according to safety Darren Sharper; the team's rush defense wasn't the same with defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis and linebacker Scott Fujita active.
Delhomme, who bruised his chest in Sunday's win, practiced Wednesday and feels fine. He'll get his chance to keep Carolina's Superdome streak alive.
Saints will try to end John Fox hex
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on November 5, 2009 7:38 AM ET
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Latest stories in: Carolina Panthers, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New Orleans Saints, Top Stories
Latest stories in: Carolina Panthers, Latest News and Rumors, NFL Mobile Exclusives - Rumors, New Orleans Saints, Top Stories
Think that will probably change this weekend, Panthers are horrible
Thats it Im betting my mortgage on Carolina. Thanks for the info Rosenthal.
Anything can happen in divisional games. Take away the W-L column and stack up the players for comparison. Its a wash almost across the board, except for QB. Carolina will treat this game like the Super Bowl, while the Saints are coming off a hard-fought emotional victory against another division rival. The Panthers have the offensive firepower to match points (if they can gel). Should be a good game. On the other hand, there's that W-L column to consider...
Actually, the streak in the Superdome is six games and it's seven in Louisiana. Carolina beat the Saints in Baton Rouge in 2005, not in New Orleans.
The Panthers beat the Cardinals because Jake only had to throw 14 times with the offense finally committing to the run for really the first time this season.
Expect once again for the team to give up on the run as soon as they fall behind, dropping their biggest strength in favor of their greatest weakness.
Jake will throw numerous interceptions while Williams and Stewart average close to 5ypc on fewer than 30 combined carries.
even if the panthers were hot righ tnow, the Saints, at this point seem un stopable, must be the mouthgaurds.
All streaks must end sometime. This isn't the 8-8 Saints from last year or years before.
Sharper will score more TDs than Steve Smith. Mark that prediction down.
"I knew he'd fight through it, and he did, " Fox said.
Fox is nuts, Jake was 7-14 for like 90yards, 50 of which came on one play (it was a pretty play). Yes Jake threw no interceptions, but thats what he is suppose to do. That doesn't make him peyton or brady.
Michael Turner had 155 yards without Jerious Norwood for the change-up. The Panthers will not need to pass.
The Panthers will run the ball well and John Fox will dictate the tempo of this game. Let's mark that prediction down.
Michael Turner had 155 yards without Jerious Norwood for the change-up. The Panthers will not need to pass.
The Panthers will run the ball well and John Fox will dictate the tempo of this game. Let's mark that prediction down.
Lets not forget the X factor in all of this. If Peppers plays like he did on Sunday against the Cardinals, that could mean trouble for Saints offensive line. Not to mention that Carolina might have the best set of linebackers the Saints faced all year. That includes Thomas Davis who has played in the league as a Strong Safety, and in the past has done well against other teams running backs coming out of the back field. I am not saying the Panthers will win, but I am more than willing to take the Panthers against the 14 points spread.
The Eagles had a top 5 ranked defense when the Saints visited them in Philly and the Saints scored 48 points. The Giants had the #1 defense when they traveled to the Superdome, and the Saints again scored 48 points. Perhaps you've heard of Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Justin Tuck, and Antonio Pierce? The Saints will respect the defense and not take them lightly, but it is tough to stop the Saints for 60 minutes. You might stop them for one or two quarters, but that offense will find a way to score, and the defense just may do that also with the way Jake is turning the ball over.