Saints at Panthers: Someone's Losing Streak Has Got to End

To get you ready for week 12, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is your New Orleans Saints/Carolina Panthers preview.

2007 Records:

New Orleans Saints: 4-6 (t-2nd in NFC South)
Carolina Panthers: 4-6 (t-2nd in NFC South)

Last Game(s):

Texans 23, Saints 10
Packers 31, Panthers 17

Why We Care: The Saints and Panthers are increasingly-desperate teams looking to keep pace with the Bucs for the NFC South lead. The Saints, after struggling from 0-4 to 4-4, have lost two straight. The Panthers are on a four-game losing streak and haven't won a game in four tries at home. Both teams need this win to keep their seasons alive.

When the Saints have the ball:Who knows what unit will show up. After having seemingly found their 2006 form during their four-game win streak, the Saints have collapsed in losses to the Rams and Texans. A combination of execution and playcalling have doomed their run game, meaning an off day for Drew Brees is a loss.

When center Jeff Faine missed time, the Saints' offense flourished under Jonathan Goodwin. The less physical Faine is back, continuing a trend of being dominated by tough interior linemen. If the Panthers' once-formidable defensive line can go retro and pressure Brees, the Saints' offense is neutralized. It'll help Brees' cause if his receivers can hold onto the ball unlike last week, when two tipped passes led to interceptions.

When the Panthers have the ball: The newly-questionable Vinny Testaverde puts the Panthers' quarterback situation into further doubt. If Testy can't go, the team will have to decide between David Carr and Matt Moore. John Fox doesn't think very much of Carr, and Moore did connect on a 43-yard pass and drove the Panthers 68 yards for a field goal in one series of action against the Saints earlier this year.

Regardless, any of these guys (including, sadly, Carr) could hit on a big play against the Saints secondary, which allows a long touchdown almost every game. In addition to that, Steve Smith pretty much owns the Saints, averaging almost 100 yards in his last six games, with seven touchdowns.

The Saints defense will be getting back a vital component -- defensive end Charles Grant, who's missed the last two games. The difference in the Saints' defense has been obvious without Grant, who takes double teams off of Will Smith and solidifies the run. Good news: even a tackling dummy is tougher to bring down that Carr, assuming he plays, so Grant should be prepared.

The Edge: Even last year, during the team's remarkable run to the NFC Championship game, the Saints just could not beat the Panthers. They've lost four in a row against Carolina, a streak dating back to the first week of the 2005 season. Most of that has been due to the prowess of Smith and the redemption of Jake Delhomme, who was allowed to walk because the Saints preferred Aaron Brooks. Delhomme didn't play in the last matchup either, and the Saints were one final drive away from beating Carolina.

New Orleans dominated the last contest but made a few costly errors to give the game away. I don't think the Panthers can get that lucky again.