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.