CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The unstoppable offense has been slowed a bit. The opportunistic defense has some holes. Perfection was dashed, followed by embarrassment a week later.
Instead of being in the middle of a New Orleans-sized celebration for capturing the franchise’s first No. 1 playoff seed, the Saints (13-2) go into Sunday’s regular-season finale against the suddenly dangerous Carolina Panthers (7-8) looking to get their mojo back.
It’s probably no surprise that coach Sean Payton plans to play his starters – at least for a while. The game may be meaningless for playoff seeding, but the Saints need a jolt of confidence.
Losing at home to Tampa Bay will do that.
“Everyone on the team agrees with coach’s decision to play our starters,” safety Darren Sharper said. “We know we still have some work to do. We need to improve as a team. Everyone knows going into the playoffs you want to be peaking and playing your best football. As of late, we are not doing that.”
The Panthers will provide a stern test to see if the Saints can improve their suddenly porous run defense and special teams while getting Drew Brees and the offense into playoff form.
Out of the postseason race for more than a month, Carolina has stunned playoff-bound Minnesota and ended the New York Giants’ postseason hopes with consecutive routs by a combined 67-16. Backup quarterback Matt Moore, a stout running game and a defense forcing numerous turnovers has made Carolina look nothing like the team that started 0-3 and lost at New Orleans in Week 9.
“Whatever their motives are, it’s not our concern,” Panthers linebacker Na’il Diggs said of the Saints. “Our concern is finishing on a high note and finishing up strong.”
The Saints have been a bit off for more than a month. They narrowly beat non-playoff teams Washington and Atlanta to improve to 13-0. Then came a home loss to Dallas to end hopes of a perfect season.
They seemed to have bounced back in building a 17-0 lead over the Buccaneers last week before a meltdown and a key missed field goal gave them the distinction of being the first team with 13 wins to lose to a team with only two victories.
But after looking at the film there are some things, some areas where we have to be better.”
Still, backup QB Mark Brunell expects to play Sunday, too, along with many other offensive reserves. Payton will weigh risk of injury against getting his team prepared for the NFC divisional round, which means the defense may see more playing time than the offense.
The Bucs rushed for 176 yards and New Orleans has dropped to 24th in the league in total defense. Now the Saints face a running game that has been running over opponents.
Jonathan Stewart, filling in for injured Pro Bowl pick DeAngelo Williams, rushed for a franchise-record 206 yards in Carolina’s drubbing of the Giants. Williams and Stewart are only the sixth pair of teammates since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to each rush for more than 1,000 yards.
Throw in Moore’s nearly flawless performance the past two games (six touchdown passes, no interceptions) and the Panthers are suddenly potent on offense after struggling to score with Jake Delhomme at quarterback. But Carolina will be without star wideout Steve Smith, who broke his arm catching a touchdown pass against the Giants.
“It’s good to not have to face him on Sunday,” said Sharper, who is tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions.
The game will end a tumultuous season for Carolina, hobbled by injuries and uncertainty. Coach John Fox is expected back next season, but hasn’t been offered a contract extension beyond 2010 and could try to seek other jobs. Defensive end Julius Peppers could be in for another free agency tussle after leading the team with 10 1/2 sacks and earning his fifth Pro Bowl berth.
“I think he loves it here,” defensive tackle Damione Lewis insisted. “I think he does want to come back.”
The Saints don’t have to worry about end-of-season roster talk this weekend. They know a Super Bowl berth requires only two home victories. But they first want to finish 8-0 on the road and erase memories of an ugly two weeks that also included backup defensive end Bobby McCray being arrested on a drunk driving charge.
Indeed, there’s been little celebrating this week.
“Looking at the last two weeks, we haven’t played out best football by any means,” Brees said. “I think the objective is to have a great week of practice and then to go out and play very well on Sunday, as well as we can play, to execute just to look sharp and do our best to win the game.
“But obviously with the mindset of we have a week off and we’re playing the divisional playoff game here, and obviously we want all our weapons and to be as healthy as possible.”
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