More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

18 days ago: Carolina Panthers' Na'il Diggs (53) celebrates an interception returned for a touchdown by teammate Julius Peppers in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in Glendale, Ariz. The Panthers defeated the Cardinals 34-21. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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Panthers QB Jake Delhomme was taken aback in an interview by the suggestion the Panthers may be developing some of the old 'swagger' after winning three of four games:

Darin Gantt's Panthers Blog | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
"To be honest with you, it didn’t feel that way, it really didn’t feel that way," he said. "We were searching, from early on. All of us, in every phase. Last week kind of felt like last year. just the feeling you had in the locker room, the feeling in the locker room at halftime, on the sideline, it was good.

I would that's mainly because the one loss in the last four games was to an inferior Bills squad. It also doesn;t help that two of the three wins was against even worse teams.

Carolina Panthers Jake Delhomme talks about facing the New Orleans Saints | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com
In winning three of the last four games, do you guys feel like you’re building something? “Somewhat, but I don’t mean to slight this in anyway; it doesn’t feel like we’ve won three of the last four. We were able to beat Washington then went to Tampa and were able to beat them. We were winning, but we weren’t playing good football. I don’t know any other way to put it. We were able to get a couple of wins, which was nice, but we were not playing good football as a team. I think last week was the closest we came as a team to playing decent football. That’s what you kind of want. If one phase is struggling, the other has to pick it up and just everybody has each other’s backs. Last week was nice, but again, that’s the last week, now it’s on to the Saints. There are no weaknesses when you watch this football team.”

Yes, nothing to get too excited about yet though it was nice to exorcise a few demons in the desert. Another reason might be the coming trip to New Orleans to play the undefeated Saints.

Panthers remain a mystery after win | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
If you were an optimist, you could look at this one and see what's coming, the story the Panthers have so often written. They'll go on the road and save a season, spoil the Saints' perfect start, be the one to poke a hole in that balloon. Maybe the Saints are getting a little big for their collective britches, a two-touchdown favorite the week after Bush started talking about going 16-0. Coach Sean Payton reined that one in, and they fairly handled a still-good Falcons team.

No need to give the Saints bulletin board material but I bet the Panthers are feeling the kind of fear of the Saints many pundits suggest they should. After all, they did sweep the Saints last season and they are the defending division champs. We shouldn't lose sight of that. The Saints also should lose sight of a certain NFC Defensive Player of the Week:

Peppers procures plaudits as player of week
I think he's been tremendous during the last four weeks. We need him to be and he has been," head coach John Fox said. "I think he's probably played a good a stretch, in my opinion, these last four games as I've ever seen him play."

Speaking of play makers, we may have a new one in the secondary.

Rookie gives Panthers another option in secondary | secondary, charlotte, gives - Top Sports - Gaston Gazette
Ron Meeks’ defense is predicated on creating turnovers and Martin showed Sunday he can be another playmaker in the secondary which makes it hard to sit him. At Troy, Martin forced nine fumbles and had nine interceptions during his career so he already had a reputation as a ballhawk coming into the NFL.

I've made no secret of my desire to see Martin as more than just an 'option' for the secondary. Where we do have limited options is the growing injury report.

Panthers' fullback Hoover could miss up to 2 weeks | The Herald - Rock Hill, SC
High ankle sprains can keep guys out from two to three weeks to much longer, depending on their severity. Running back DeAngelo Williams missed a month with the same thing in 2006 (three games and the bye week). The injury occurs when the ligaments that hold the lower leg bones together are stretched, as opposed to some of the simple rolls that are classified ankle sprains.

If both Hoover and Fiammetta can't go Sunday the Panthers running game might suffer a bit. On the bright side the Saints are not without their troubles in this match-up.

Saints DT Sedrick Ellis Out 4-6 Weeks With Sprained MCL - SB Nation
The undefeated New Orleans Saints will likely be without starting defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis for the next four to six weeks according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ellis suffered a sprained MCL during the team’s October 25 victory over Miami. No surgery is expected, according to Schefter.

From the redundant category of redundancy, QB Jake Delhomme tells us that "as soon as he got hit he felt it". Whoa, really?

Jake Delhomme Injures Chest, Expects To Play Week 9 - SB Nation
"They hit me where it hurts," said Delhomme, whose injury was officially described as a chest contusion. "As soon as I got hit, I felt it immediately. I couldn't catch my breath and I felt like it was my sternum. "I got the CT scan and I think everything is good."

That's weird because usually when I get hit it hurts somewhere else. While we are talking about insightful quotes we should never pass on a chance to quote John Fox:

NFC South: Can the ground game save the Panthers' season? - Breaking News, Local News, Local Weather, Local Sports
"We've kind of developed [a run game] over the last few games," said head coach John Fox, whose club is now averaging 148.9 yards per game on the ground. "We didn't run the ball especially well early in the season."

He means its 'kind of' a running game since dudes are being handed the ball and carrying it instead of catching it, but its not running exactly, kind of. Speaking of dudes running with the ball, some people think this Panther does it 'kind of' good:

NFC South - ESPN
Williams was selected as the division’s most dangerous player in the open field after consideration was given to teammate Steve Smith, Atlanta receiver Roddy White, Atlanta running back Michael Turner and New Orleans receivers Marques Colston and Devery Henderson.

I just finished watching the 1st half of the Cardinals game and there is one thing that really stood out on defense and that is DE Julius Peppers simply abused LT Mike Gandy.

New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers Scouting Report | New Orleans Saints Central - - NOLA.com
"His play over the last month, I think, has had a big thing to do with our defense playing better, not to pin it all on him by any stretch. We've got some pretty good guys that have been here for a little bit that are the heart of our defense that have started playing better, and that's why we've played better on defense." -- Coach John Fox on the play of Peppers.

Fourteen points, really?

Saints Favored Big At Home Over Carolina
The Saints will be favored by 14 at home over Carolina according to our NFL Week 9 Betting Odds and the over/under is set at 52. The Panthers are 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games and the total has gone over in 6 of New Orleans' last 8 games.

Last but not least is one...actual...piece...of worthy insight from...John Fox:

Foxhole: Fullback position empty
On players becoming more comfortable with defensive coordinator Ron Meeks' system: If you're not thinking, you play faster. Early on we had a lot of new guys in there. We did have some injuries. I think that was as big as anything - different people learning the system. We've gotten some of those people back now and settled in a little bit as far as, hopefully, trying to keep the same starting lineup a little bit cohesive. I think we are playing better for it. I thought last week was a huge challenge, and I think this week is huger, if there is such a word.

You wouldn't think Meeks system is that different from the previous Panther defensive scheme but we have to acknowledge the realities of the learning curve. Now we jsut have to hope its not too late to salvage the season.