Panthers News http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:59:50 +0000 120 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/58019-panthers-upcoming-game-schedule-for-2010/
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]]> Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:59:50 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/58019-panthers-upcoming-game-schedule-for-2010/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57835-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-new-orleans/ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
FOX


Game Preview:

Before heading into the postseason, Payton's team will try to avoid a third straight loss when it visits the resurgent Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

The Saints defense is allowing 359.8 yards per game to rank 24th in the league and has given up 439 each of the past two weeks, including a combined 321 rushing yards.

That doesn't bode well against the NFL's third-best rushing team (154.7 ypg). The Panthers (7-8) got a franchise-record performance from Jonathan Stewart last week.

With DeAngelo Williams nursing an injured left ankle, Stewart ran for 206 yards and a touchdown as Carolina produced another easy victory, 41-9 over the host New York Giants. Stewart and Williams, who may return Sunday, are the fifth pair of teammates in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.

Matt Moore threw for three touchdown passes for the second straight game. He's had seven TDs and one interception since taking over for an injured Jake Delhomme earlier this month, leading the team to three wins in four starts.

"He's got more comfortable managing the game," coach John Fox said. "I think there are certain things he's a little more comfortable doing that we've had to tweak a little bit. But I think he's gotten better each week and I think he'll continue that."

Last week's performance combined with a 26-7 home win over Minnesota on Dec. 20 might have saved Fox's job. Trying to avoid a fourth 7-9 finish in eight seasons running the Panthers, Fox wouldn't say what his future holds despite reports that owner Jerry Richardson would allow him to return next season.

A season-high third straight victory and the seventh in nine tries against the Saints might help Fox's job security, but Carolina needs a better second-half performance than the one it had in a 30-20 loss at New Orleans on Nov. 8.

Williams gave Carolina a 14-0 lead with a pair of TD runs, but the Saints rallied for 24 points over the final 29:04, including Anthony Hargrove's 1-yard fumble return with two minutes remaining.

While Williams rushed for 149 yards in that loss, Stewart was limited to 24 on 13 carries, and Brees passed for 330 yards.

The Saints haven't dropped three in a row since a four-game losing streak to begin the 2007 season. They are looking to finish 8-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=300103029


Final game of the season for the Panthers! Make it a good one cats!!!

Discuss.... ]]> Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:28:06 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57835-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-new-orleans/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57607-panthers-gameday-carolina-ny-giants/ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
FOX


Game Preview:

Panthers leading rusher DeAngelo Williams matched a career high with four TDs in that matchup, but is questionable this week after spraining his ankle in the first quarter of Sunday's 26-7 victory over Minnesota.

Jonathan Stewart ran for 109 yards and a TD and was named NFC offensive player of the week for his efforts.

The Giants' seventh-ranked defense will also have to find an answer for Matt Moore, who had career highs with 299 passing yards and three TDs against the Vikings. Moore, making his third consecutive start for Jake Delhomme (broken finger), found Steve Smith nine times for 157 yards, including the go-ahead, fourth-quarter score.

New York, which is averaging 38.0 points and 412.0 yards during its last three games, will face a Panthers defense that's totaled eight interceptions and five fumbles over the last four contests.

Carolina (6-8) sacked Brett Favre four times and caused a pair of turnovers Sunday. All-Pro defensive end Julius Peppers had one sack and three hurries.

"That was one of our more complete games," Panthers coach John Fox said. "We had a more complete one out in Arizona (a 34-21 win on Nov. 1), it seems like 100 years ago. But it was good to see those guys show up like they did tonight."

Although the Panthers have little more to play for than personal statistics and possibly saving Fox's job, New York has too much at stake to look past the defending NFC South champs and toward the regular-season finale at Minnesota.

"We have a tough stretch," quarterback Eli Manning told the Giants' official Web site. "Carolina is coming off a big win this past week. They're a tough team, we know that from playing them last year.

"We know we have to keep going. Offensively, we know we have to stay in this rhythm, score some points and help out our defense."

Manning, 2-0 in the regular season versus Carolina, has thrown for six scores and no interceptions in the last two games.

Already with a career-best 26 TDs, Manning needs 179 passing yards to set a career high. He threw for 3,762 yards in his first year as a starter in 2005 and said Sunday will be a day to remember.

"I have only been here six years, but I have a lot of fond memories and great wins," he said. "Obviously for the fans and the ownership, it's a special game for them. You think about how many great teams and great games have been played in Giants Stadium. It will be a special day for us."

The Giants and Jets will share the new $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium, scheduled to open in April.

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw will look to score in three straight games for the first time in his career after running for two first-half touchdowns Monday.

Carolina looks to avoid its first four-game road losing streak since Sept. 29-Nov. 17, 2002.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291227019]]> Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:42:16 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57607-panthers-gameday-carolina-ny-giants/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57441-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-minnesota/ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
NBC


Game Preview:

Minnesota will be visiting Carolina for the first time in four years. The Panthers (5-8) have lost three of four and are coming off a 20-10 defeat to New England on Sunday.

Matt Moore, making his second straight start, went 15 of 30 for 197 yards and one touchdown. Moore will start again this week in place of veteran Jake Delhomme, who has thrown 18 interceptions to eight touchdowns and has a broken finger.

The Panthers are looking for something to ignite a lackluster offense that was held to fewer than 20 points in the last four games. The passing attack has been a big part of the problem, as Carolina ranks 28th in the league with 169.8 yards per game.

"It's not been one thing, it's been a combination," coach John Fox said. "I don't think it's just the quarterback. That's easy to sit and be critical of. Sometimes I think it's been protection; sometimes I think it's been routes; sometimes I think it's been the throw. ... All we can do it try to improve it."

The ground game has been a different story, with the Panthers ranking fourth at 149.9 rushing yards per contest.

DeAngelo Williams returned last week after missing the previous game with an ankle injury and ran for 82 yards, giving him 1,104 and seven touchdowns on the season.

Carolina's potent run game will be tested by Minnesota's fourth-ranked rush defense. The Vikings have allowed an average of 86.9 yards on the ground.

Minnesota won its last two games against the Panthers but lost 38-13 in its only trip to Charlotte in 2005.

The Vikings will be missing some depth at linebacker after backup Erin Henderson was suspended four games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Henderson has appeared in two games, including the win over the Bengals. He has been used primarily on special teams.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291220029

Discuss..... ]]> Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:10:10 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57441-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-minnesota/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57133-panthers-gameday-carolina-new-england/ Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA
FOX

Game Preview:

Back-to-back losses have been rare enough for the New England Patriots in recent seasons, but three straight defeats are almost unheard of under coach Bill Belichick.

The team will try to avoid its first skid of that length in more than seven years as it hosts the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, with New England looking to keep sole possession of the AFC East lead and remain unbeaten at Gillette Stadium.

The Panthers are hoping to get running back D'Angelo Williams back after he missed Sunday's 16-6 win over Tampa Bay with an ankle problem.

Quarterback Matt Moore started that game in place of the injured Jake Delhomme and is expected to be under center again against the Patriots.

Even without Williams, Carolina relied heavily on the NFL's third-ranked rush offense against the Buccaneers, with Jonathan Stewart racking up 120 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries.

"We were running the ball well, a lot of quick-game stuff, getting the ball out fast," Moore said. "That makes it easy on any quarterback."

The Panthers (5-7) are realistically out of playoff contention, however, in part due to a banged-up defense, which may use a 13th different starting lineup this week if defensive end Tyler Brayton's concussion sidelines him Sunday.

"Each year it's a certain team that goes through this," defensive tackle Damione Lewis said. "This year it just happened to bite us."

The Panthers last played at New England on Oct. 29, 1995, winning 20-17 in overtime.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291213017

Discuss.... ]]> Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:45:54 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/57133-panthers-gameday-carolina-new-england/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56869-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-tampa-bay/ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
FOX

Game Preview

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers changed quarterbacks a month ago as their dismal season was already slipping away.

With their playoff possibilities quickly vanishing, the Carolina Panthers might be ready to do the same.

Jake Delhomme's broken finger may finally earn the veteran a spot on the bench, giving Matt Moore his first start in two years Sunday when the Panthers try to hand the Buccaneers an eighth straight road loss.

Carolina (4-7) won four of six after an 0-3 start, and some improved play from Delhomme helped fuel the turnaround. He threw seven interceptions during the Panthers' season-opening skid, but gave it away only six times during the next six games as the tailback tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart put Carolina back in playoff contention.

The Panthers' postseason hopes are mostly gone after two more losses, though, and Delhomme might be as well. A week after Carolina fell 24-17 at home to Miami, Delhomme had his second four-interception game of the season in a 17-6 loss to the New York Jets.

"It wasn't good," said Delhomme, tied for second in the NFL with 18 interceptions. "There's no other way to put it. We didn't run it well. We certainly didn't throw it well."

The last interception came after banging hands with linebacker Calvin Pace, a collision that also resulted in Delhomme breaking a finger on his right hand. Though coach John Fox was noncommittal Wednesday on which quarterback would play against the Buccaneers (1-10), all signs point to Moore making his first start since Dec. 30, 2007, at Tampa Bay, where he threw two touchdowns in a 31-23 Panthers win.

"I think this is a great opportunity for Matt," said receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who hasn't caught a touchdown since Dec. 28. "Obviously, we won't do a lot of the things that Jake does well, but we'll do the things that Matt does well."

Delhomme threw two interceptions when the Panthers played in Tampa on Oct. 18, one of which was returned by Tanard Jackson to tie the score at 21-all with 8:33 to play.

Carolina wasn't denied on its next possession, however, capping an 80-yard drive with Williams' second touchdown run to secure a 28-21 win. Williams finished with 152 yards and Stewart had 110, his lone 100-yard effort this season.

Rookie Josh Freeman saw some time in the Bucs' next game, and took over the starting job from Josh Johnson on Nov. 8 against Green Bay, throwing three TDs and leading Tampa Bay to a stunning 38-28 upset.

Freeman struggled in losses to Miami and New Orleans, but had the best game of his brief career Sunday at Atlanta. The 17th overall pick was 20 of 29 for 250 yards and two touchdowns, nearly piloting another upset before a last-second score allowed the Falcons to escape with a 20-17 win.

"I think he's starting to develop into what we all think he can be," rookie coach Raheem Morris said. "He's shown nothing but good things. He had the one week where he kind of backed off ... but he's getting better and better every week."

Morris took over defensive playcalling duties from coordinator Jim Bates after the loss to the Saints, saying it was his responsibility to fix a defense that's allowed the second-most points in the NFL and is 26th in yards allowed (370.9 per game).

The improvement was noticeable, as the Bucs yielded a season-low 75 yards on the ground, allowed its second-fewest total yards (297) in a game, and matched a season best with six sacks.

While Freeman is learning on the job, it appears Morris is as well. The league's second-youngest coach drew criticism after running a fake punt that cost Tampa Bay field position early in the fourth quarter, then later opting to attempt a 51-yard field goal -- Connor Barth missed -- rather than punting with under three minutes to go.

"We were a 1-9 football team," Morris said. "I think you've got to teach this team how to insert a dagger in somebody and win the game. That's part of the learning curve, part of what we're going through."

Williams had a career-high 186 rushing yards and two TDs in Carolina's 38-23 home win over the Bucs on Dec. 8.

Tampa Bay has not had an individual 100-yard rusher in 21 straight games -- the longest active streak in football.


http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291206029

Discuss.... ]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:38:16 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56869-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-tampa-bay/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56591-panthers-gameday-carolina-ny-jets/ Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
FOX


Game Preview:

Coming off a season when they tied for the best record in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers clearly expected to return to the playoffs. Instead, injuries and poor play are dimming those postseason hopes.

The Panthers will try to overcome an injury-ravaged defense Sunday when they visit the New York Jets, another team fading in the playoff race.

Carolina (4-6) went 12-4 last season, winning the NFC South and matching the New York Giants for the best record in the conference. That success was muted when the Panthers were upset in the divisional playoffs, falling 33-13 to Arizona.

Despite that disappointment, the Panthers were expected to mount another run at the division title this season.

Things haven't worked out that way.

Carolina lost its first three games before seemingly turning around the season with a 4-2 stretch, but a 24-17 home loss to Miami on Nov. 19 may be tough to overcome. It was the fourth time this season the Panthers had a chance to reach .500 but failed.

While the division title is out of reach, Carolina is still within two games of a wild-card spot.

"I'm sure outside of that (team meeting) room, there will be a lot of people that don't give us a chance," coach John Fox said. "Until the math says it, we'll feel like we have a chance."

For the Panthers to return to the playoffs, they must overcome a schedule that includes meetings with division leaders New England and Minnesota, as well as the Giants and currently unbeaten New Orleans.

That schedule may seem more daunting with a myriad of injuries to the Carolina defense, including one to defensive end Julius Peppers that has been defined as a "messed up hand" by Fox.

Peppers, hurt in a loss at New Orleans on Nov. 8, didn't appear on the injury report last week, but was only used on passing downs against the Dolphins. The four-time Pro Bowler is the Panthers' all-time sack leader with 77 1/2 and tops the team this season with seven, but he has none in the last three games.

"No comments on that," defensive end Everette Brown said when asked about Peppers. "I don't really know the situation, what's going on. I won't go in depth about it."

The defense is also dealing with the loss of linebacker Landon Johnson, placed on injured reserve Tuesday after hurting his medial collateral ligament against Miami. It was his second start at weakside linebacker in place of Thomas Davis, who also was lost for the season.

Johnson's injury leaves James Anderson as the likely starter Sunday at New York (4-6).

Fox denied that DeAngelo Williams' sore left knee played a role in him getting only 13 carries last week. He did run for 122 yards, putting him among the league leaders with 982.

Jake Delhomme threw his first interception in four games last week, but it was a costly one as he tried to force a pass to Steve Smith near the goal line. His 14 interceptions are two more than all of last season and two shy of his career high.

The Jets have had their own problems at quarterback.

Coach Rex Ryan is keeping rookie Mark Sanchez as the starter even after he threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in a 31-14 loss to New England last Sunday. During the Jets' current 1-6 slump, Sanchez has thrown six touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

"I just think that he's not going to get better unless he gets out and plays," Ryan said. "It's clearly not just Mark's fault. There's a reason he was named the starter, that I thought he gave us the best opportunity to win, and I still feel that."

One thing that will change is Ryan becoming more involved in other areas after leaving the offense exclusively to coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and special teams to Mike Westhoff.

"I need to be more of the game manager than probably what I even realized before," said Ryan, who calls defensive plays. "There's been some people here that have been critical of that, and it's probably more accurate than I wanted to believe."

Ryan made one big change on the defensive side of the ball this week, demoting starting safety Kerry Rhodes in favor of Eric Smith. Rhodes has started every game of his five-year NFL career, but he has no interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries this season.

The Panthers have split four meetings with the Jets, winning the last one 30-3 on Nov. 13, 2005. They haven't visited the Jets since a 48-21 loss Nov. 29, 1998.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291129020

Discuss.... ]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:38:41 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56591-panthers-gameday-carolina-ny-jets/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56290-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-miami/ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
NFL

Preview

Powerful running games helped the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins grind out what may have been season-saving victories last weekend, but there's not much time to recover.

They'll also have to move on without key cogs in their ground attacks.

Ronnie Brown's absence could limit the effectiveness of the Dolphins' wildcat formation Thursday night in Charlotte, while the Panthers will try to get back in the wild-card mix without star tackle Jordan Gross paving the way for their tailback tandem.

Carolina and Miami both began 0-3 after winning their respective division titles in 2008, seemingly putting themselves in major peril considering no team has made the playoffs after such a poor start since the 1998 Detroit Lions.

Instead, they've each won four of six to improve to 4-5. The Panthers' 28-19 win over Atlanta on Sunday put them one game behind the Falcons, Packers, Eagles and Giants in the wild-card picture, with a game at New York still remaining on their schedule.

"I think we were at a major crossroad in the season being 3-5," said receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who had six catches for 91 yards in his return from a knee injury. "If you look at the playoff picture, we have as good a chance as anybody else with seven games left in the season."

Muhammad's return, Steve Smith's two touchdowns and a no-huddle offense -- which Smith referred to as "controlled chaos" -- seem to have signaled a resurgence for Jake Delhomme, who has three touchdowns and zero interceptions in the past three weeks. Delhomme had thrown an NFL-high 13 picks in his first six games, when many were calling for him to be benched.

The Panthers have survived on their running game, which is third in the league (156.6 yards per game) behind DeAngelo Williams (5.1 yards per carry, seven touchdowns) and Jonathan Stewart (4.8, six). Williams had 92 yards Sunday and Stewart finished with 82 and two scores.

That rushing attack -- and Delhomme's blind-side pass protection -- might be in trouble with the loss of Gross, the All-Pro left tackle who broke his ankle against Atlanta. Gross had only missed one game in his seven-year career, but he's out for the season after undergoing surgery Sunday night.

"He's a leader, a top-10 pick," Delhomme said of the eighth selection in the 2003 draft. "He was placed at tackle at the first minicamp and he hasn't left."

Now, veteran Travelle Wharton will move from left guard to left tackle, and Mackenzy Bernadeau, an untested 2008 second rounder, will fill Wharton's spot with just two practices to prepare for Miami.

The Dolphins appeared on the verge of dropping to 3-6 on Sunday in Tampa after Chad Henne's interception with under 2 minutes to play led to a touchdown that gave the Buccaneers a 23-22 lead with 1:14 to go.

Henne didn't make a mistake when Miami got the ball back, though. He completed two passes for 41 yards and Ricky Williams' 27-yard run put the Dolphins in position for Dan Carpenter's 25-yard field goal, which gave them a 25-23 win.

Henne finished 17 for 31 for 175 yards and improved to 4-2 as a starter.

"I told him after the game in the locker room, 'You grew up today,'" defensive end Jason Taylor said. "It's a maturation process. He's going to make mistakes. We all make mistakes. I still do after 13 years. The key is to bounce back when you do, and that's what he did today."

Williams topped 100 yards for the first time this season, part of a 199-yard day for the league's fourth-best rushing attack (156.2). But Brown hurt his right foot in the victory, an injury that will keep him out Thursday -- and perhaps longer.

That means the 32-year-old Williams, who's averaging a career-best 5.3 yards per carry, will be the triggerman in the wildcat formation.

"He's a good pro and knows that if Ronnie's not out there, his role is going to change," coach Tony Sparano said. "The guy carried the ball 20 times the other night. (We're) talking about a guy that led the league in rushing at one point. He gets it, he knows what he has to do."

The Dolphins figure to be in better position to stop the run, considering they feature the league's seventh-best rush defense (97.6). Carolina allows 128.1 yards per game on the ground to rank 25th.

Miami will get pass-rushing linebacker Joey Porter back this week after Sparano deactivated him for "off-field conduct" against Tampa, but it's been vulnerable through the air, allowing 239.4 yards per game and ranking 27th.

The Panthers' pass defense ranks fourth (186.4), and they've picked off eight passes in their past three games.

Carolina has never beaten the Dolphins in three meetings and hasn't faced them in Charlotte since Nov. 15, 1998.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291119029

Discuss..... ]]> Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:48:42 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56290-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-miami/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56018-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-atlanta/ Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
FOX


Game Preview:

The Atlanta Falcons insist Matt Ryan isn't struggling despite his poor numbers over the last three games. The Carolina Panthers appear to be happy just to see Jake Delhomme avoiding more mistakes.

The NFC South rivals meet for the second time this season Sunday with both clubs facing questions about their quarterbacks.

Atlanta (5-3) is playing the first of two straight games on the road, where it is 1/3 with two straight losses. Ryan threw five interceptions in his last two road games.

Ryan, who led the Falcons to 11 wins and a playoff spot as a rookie last season, had four touchdowns, six interceptions and a 54.5 completion percentage in his last three games.

"Matt has played very well the entire season," coach Mike Smith said. "I don't think you can judge a one-game stretch, a two-game stretch, or a three-game stretch in terms of determining. I think that's talking points for a lot of folks.

"For us, we are working for the next game and making sure we make corrections on all levels of the football team. I don't think that contention that Matt is not playing well; I don't believe that at all. I think Matt's played very, very well."

Ryan was 17 of 24 for 135 yards, one touchdown and one interception in last Sunday's 31-17 win over Washington.

Delhomme has five touchdowns and an NFL-high 13 interceptions this year after guiding Carolina (3-5) to the South title in 2008. He didn't thrown an interception the last two games, but coach John Fox has been forced to defend the passing game for not throwing downfield more.

Delhomme passed for 201 yards and no touchdowns in a 30-20 loss at New Orleans last Sunday.

"I'm confident," Fox said, "that we can get better."

Pro Bowl receiver Steve Smith has one touchdown reception this season and is tied for 34th in the league with 34 catches.

"We need to get more dangerous on offense," left tackle Jordan Gross said. "It's kind of the same old song. We need to do better in the passing game."

Both teams are taking the pressure off their quarterbacks by running the ball well. Michael Turner gained 166 yards and scored two touchdowns last week for Atlanta, six days after he gained 150 yards on 20 carries in a 35-27 loss at New Orleans.

Turner has scored in seven straight games and leads the NFC with 10 rushing touchdowns.

The Falcons' beleaguered run defense may be tasked with slowing down a resurgent DeAngelo Williams, who posted an NFL-high 548 rushing yards over the last four weeks. Atlanta ranks 24th against the run, and Williams had 79 yards on 16 carries in a 28-20 road defeat to the Falcons on Sept. 20.

Williams, though, missed practice Wednesday because of a sore knee. Fox said that Williams tweaked the injury and will be evaluated.

The Falcons' defense features the NFL's leading tackler in middle linebacker Curtis Lofton with 84, but Atlanta yielded 397 yards on the ground in the last three games.

Delhomme had 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in his last seven games against the Falcons, going 25 for 41 for 308 yards and one TD and three interceptions in the September meeting.

Ryan also turned in one of his most efficient performances in that game, completing 21 of 27 passes for three touchdowns, one interception and 220 yards.

Atlanta won six of its last nine games in Charlotte, falling 24-9 in last year's visit as Delhomme threw for 294 yards, two scores and no interceptions.

"This next game is at their place, so, it's going to be a challenge," Atlanta tight end Justin Peelle said. "They're playing really well right now."

Carolina will play the rest of the season without weakside linebacker Thomas Davis, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Sunday. Davis had been productive to the point that teammates believed he could reach his first Pro Bowl.

"He's played very well. I feel bad for the young man because he's put a lot into it," Fox said. "He was playing at a high level. It's unfortunate, and I feel bad for him and his family."

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291115029

Discuss.... ]]> Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:17:13 +0000 http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/56018-panthers-gameday-carolina-vs-atlanta/ http://www.carolinapanthersden.com/forums/index.php?/topic/55789-panthers-gameday-carolina-new-orleans/ 4:05 PM ET, November 08, 2009
Superdome, New Orleans, LA
FOX

Game Preview:

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.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/nflpreview?gameId=291108018

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