Panthers Sticking With Jake Delhomme

Blame it on the $42.5 million contract extension he signed in the offseason, but whatever the reason, Jake Delhomme just can't get himself benched.

Delhomme threw three interceptions in Carolina's 20-9 home loss to Buffalo last season, upping his season turnover total to 15 -- which is more than 29 teams through seven weeks of the NFL season. But with 2-4 Carolina on the verge of becoming a team playing for draft position, Panthers coach John Fox announced Wednesday that Delhomme would start at Arizona this week.

"I think he gives us the best chance to win," Fox said. "There's no question we've struggled in that area. Going through and looking at some of our mishaps, I don't think it's one guy, and I still think he gives us the best chance to win."

Given Delhomme's performance thus far in 2009, that doesn't say much for backup QBs Matt Moore and A.J. Feeley -- Moore was thought to have a shot at the starting gig this week.

Instead, Delhomme gets the nod again, ironically against Arizona, which started Delhomme's issues in the first places. After turning the ball over just 15 times in 16 regular-season starts last season, Delhomme coughed it up six times (five interceptions, one fumble) in a playoff loss to the Cardinals.

Despite being given that hefty contract extension in April, he's seemingly never regained his confidence. Perhaps redeeming himself against Arizona would set Delhomme back on the right path.

"I don't know that a lot of it is based on who our opponent is this week," said Fox of his decision to stick with Delhomme. "We're not the same team as we were a year ago, we've got a lot of different players. ... We're not the same team and neither is Arizona."

Carolina appeared to be on the verge of turning its season around after back-to-back wins over Washington and Tampa Bay nearly erased an 0-3 start. But Delhomme was horrendous in the loss to Buffalo -- throwing the ball 44 times while the Panthers' dynamic running back duo of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart saw just 23 combined carries.

The presence of Williams and Stewart, plus an offensive line that's been at least serviceable, makes Delhomme's bumbling even harder to figure. Carolina ranks No. 8 in the NFL in both yards per rush (4.4) and yards rushing per game (128.7).

"You're not going to win every play, and that's something you understand in this league," Fox said. "Getting confidence helps when you get good results, and we're going to fight though it, get out of the funk and get good results."

Fox will have to forgive, well, everyone if they're a little skeptical.