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Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme has a simple recipe for beating the unbeaten New Orleans Saints.
"Possessing the ball and protecting the ball is ... paramount," said Delhomme.
The Panthers (3-4) will face the Saints (7-0) Sunday in New Orleans' Superdome. The Saints, with the league's top-ranked offense and an opportunistic defense, are one of league's two remaining undefeated teams (with the Indianapolis Colts).
Delhomme thinks the Panthers are capable of an upset, especially if they can stick to his formula. Carolina, which has won three of four, opened its victory against the Arizona Cardinals last weekend with a 15-play drive that produced a touchdown.
The Panthers scored their winning points in a victory against Tampa Bay this season after a 16-play drive.
And Carolina's victory against Arizona also came without an offensive turnover.
The Saints' defense has scored six touchdowns (more than the Cleveland Browns' offense, which has produced five). Safety Darren Sharper has seven interceptions and has turned three of them into touchdowns.
"He's not slowing down," Delhomme said of Sharper, 34, who is in his first season with the Saints after 12 years with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. "He lines up on the line of scrimmage, then a second-and-a-half later, he's 20 yards downfield. He's covering half the field."
Delhomme, who left the Cardinals game with a bruised chest, said he felt fine Wednesday.
Notes
Several players missed practice: Fullbacks Tony Fiammetta (concussion) and Brad Hoover (ankle), safety Charles Godfrey (ankle), linebacker Landon Johnson (shoulder), receiver Muhsin Muhammad (knee), tight end Dante Rosario (knee) and running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles).
Coach John Fox wouldn't let on what the Panthers will do if either of their fullbacks is unable to play against the Saints.
"I think we have some plans in place," Fox said. "You don't retool your whole offense this stage of game. You can ask your people take on new roles."
The Panthers worked out free-agent fullbacks Jehuu Caulcrick and Jerome Johnson this week, but it doesn't appear they'll sign either. Caulcrick has played with the New York Jets and Johnson was cut by the St. Louis Rams in the preseason.
Tight ends Jeff King and Gary Barnidge filled in against the Cardinals when Hoover and Fiammetta were out.
Delhomme was asked if he sometimes wished he was in a more pass-oriented offense, like the Saints' Drew Brees.
"No, I'm not that guy," he said. "In fact, I can't stand it when a guy sits back and says, 'If I played on that team, I'd do this ...' I hate that person. I can't stand that guy. Don't even say that. It's not something I'd do."
The Panthers' kick-return team remains last in the league with an 18.7-yard average. Carolina struggled on the first two kicks from the Cardinals, the first when Kenneth Moore ran into Mike Goodson as Goodson tried to block for him.
The second came when Goodson returned the ball out of the end zone, despite being waved off by Moore, who wanted him to down it.
"Just like we worked on it," Fox said sarcastically. "I think the message was to stay (in the end zone), but the message didn't ring true. Luckily it wasn't more catastrophic than it was. On (Moore's return), I wasn't sure if they were on the same team or not."
Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers is the NFC's defensive player of the week. He had an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, as well as a sack and a forced fumble against Arizona.
Linebacker Dan Connor was named the Panthers' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award. The award goes to a player who symbolizes character, integrity and is a good community role model.
Delhomme said defensive end Charles Grant is the only player still with the Saints from his days (1998-2002) as a backup in New Orleans. No coaches from that time are still with the team.
Delhomme is unbeaten in four starts for the Panthers against the Saints in the Superdome. He was injured for one game in New Orleans and another was played in Baton Rouge, La., because of Hurricane Katrina (Carolina won that one, too).
"As a quarterback, I love that 72 (degrees) and no wind," Delhomme, who grew up in nearby Breaux Bridge, La., said of playing indoors.
The Panthers worked out free-agent fullbacks Jehuu Caulcrick and Jerome Johnson this week, but it doesn't appear they'll sign them. Caulcrick has played with the New York Jets and Johnson was cut by the St. Louis Rams during the preseason.
