That’s how the Panthers have been spelling defense so far this season.  Linebacker Chris Draft is stepping up this season and already has 25 tackles.  DE Julius Peppers has been his normal dominating self with 18 tackles and four sacks.  These two will need some help against the Saints this weekend.

All new registrations at PanthersLocker.com will receive a free $10 bet for a Week 5 game at our sponsor SuperiorBook.com.

All you need to do is:

1. Register with us.
2. Be able to receive email from BlogLockers.com. Make sure to set your spam filters to receive email from bloglockers.com, or you will not receive the free $10 bet.
3. Read the rules at www.SuperiorBook.com
4. Set up an account with SuperiorBook.com

We will email a code out to our new registrants during week 4 with the bonus code for the free $10 bet at SuperiorBook.com.

Sign up today!!

The big question going into this game is if the Saints will have anything left in the tank after their emotional win over the Falcons on Monday night.

The Saints will look to run on the Panthers defense, which has allowed 152.0 yards rushing per game.  RBs Deuce McAllister (218 rushing yards) and Reggie Bush (125 yards rushing, 139 yards receiving) will be testing the Panthers Front 7 early.  If the Saints run well, look for Drew Brees to take some shots down the field for Marques Colston (15 rec, 204 yards), Joe Horn (10 rec, 160 yards) and Devery Henderson.

The Panthers offense looked good last week against the Bucs.  The Panthers will attempt to run a balanced offense against an aggressive Saints defense that is only allowing 266.7 yards per game.  DeShaun Foster will need to have a good game, his 3.4 average will not cut it this week.  The Panthers need to establish a running game to slow the Saints pass rush that already has 12 sacks this season.  Look for Delhomme to take some deep shots with Steve Smith (112 yards rec. last week) and Keyshawn Johnson (16 rec, 243 yards) over the middle.

This should be a great game that could go either way.

Steve Smith returned Sunday and he looked far from rusty.  Smith caught 7 passes for 112 yards.  Keyshawn Johnson benefitted from the single coverage coming his way and caught 7 passes for 97 yards and a TD.  Jake Delhomme looked much more comfortable completing 22 of 36 passes for 272 yards and a TD.  RB DeShaun Foster carried the ball 20 times for 82 yards.

The Panthers played the kind of defense that they played last season.  The Panthers held the Bucs to 64 yards rushing and only 2.6 yards per carry.  The Bucs completed 14 of 25 passes but for only a net gain of 145 yards passing.

Steve Smith inspired the team and willed them into the win column.

Both of these teams were butalized by the Atlanta Falcons, and this is an important game for two teams that expected much more this season.

The Panthers will attempt to run the football to slow up the Bucs pass rush.  RBs DeShaun Foster and D’Angelo Williams should find running room against a defense that has give up 409 yards rushing in their first two games.  WR Keyshawn Johnson (9 rec, 146 yards) is having a good start to the season and would love nothing more than to stick it to Coach Gruden.

The Bucs need to get back to running the football.  Cadillac Williams should be able to get it going after a rough start against the Panthers’ D that has given up 392 yards rushing this season.  The Bucs need to get a quick lead to lessen the pressure on QB Chris Simms who has thrown 6 INT and 0 TDs this season.  If the Bucs establish the run, look for Simms to run some play-action and try to get the ball deep to Joey Galloway.

I think the QB that makes the least mistakes wins this football game, so I have to side with the Panthers.

Safety Shaun Williams is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Bucs.  Colin Branch is likely to start.  Too bad Williams hurt his ankle because Chris Simms has been handing out interceptions like it was Christmas.

I understand where Coach Fox is coming from in regards to the blotched Chris Gamble play.I feel Coach Fox should not throw the play out of his book.  Add the “Statue of Liberty Play”  used years ago, one I’ll never forget.  As a PSL fan to all the home games. I feel we need more fantasy plays that really get the fans in the game. win or loose.  If you are a true fan your are there to the end whether the play worksor not.  This is a First class team and that includes Coach Fox and the whole organization.  Great call.  Do it again for me and all the other fans.  I’ll be looking for it.

The Panthers had another tough game on Sunday. Jake Delhomme really misses Steve Smith. Delhomme completed 17 of 33 passes (51.5%) for 181 yards. DeShaun Foster had a rough game, carrying the ball 13 times for 26 yards (2.0 ypc) and catching 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg). D’Angelo Williams had a good game carrying the ball 13 times for 74 yards (5.7 ypc) and a TD, he also caught 5 passes for 24 yards (4.8 avg). WR Keyshawn Johnson had a good game, catching 5 passes for 106 yards (21.2 avg). Drew Carter caught 4 passes for 34 yards (8.5 avg).

DE Julius Peppers was all over the place in this game. Peppers had 5 tackles, 3 sacks and blocked a FG. The Panthers had more trouble with their run defense allowing 140 yards on 33 carries (4.2 ypc). The Vikings completed 62.5% of their passes for 225 net yards thru the air. The special teams committed a HUGE error letting Ryan Longwell (kicker) to throw a 16 yard TD pass to back-up TE Richard Owens on a fake FG!

With Steve Smith still hurting it will be important to run the ball well against the Vikings.  The Vikings defense played very well against the run and pass against the Redskins on Monday night.  Jake Delhomme will need to be smart with the football and not force it into tight areas, because the Vikings have a very good secondary.  The Panthers will need to dig down deep with all of the injuries they’ve endured so far, or they’ll be in trouble again this week.

The Vikings have a new identity under coach Brad Childress.  The Vikings feature the run and a short passing attack.  The Panthers should be able to handle the passing game of Minnesota, because they lack a big-time receiver.  Chester Taylor will have a heavy load against the suddenly soft run defense of the Panthers.

Unless the Vikings have a Monday Night Football hangover, they look to have the edge at home in this game.

PanthersLocker.com is proud to announce our new weekly Props Contest. You won’t find Props like these anywhere else on the web, so bring you’re A game. Good luck!

Here are the 3 Props this week:

1. How many total sacks for the game, both teams included?
2. Who from either team will score the first touchdown of the game?
3. How many total penalty yards for the game, both teams included?

How To Enter
Entering is as easy as becoming a registered member of PanthersLocker.com and posting your picks in this thread. Just register, click the comments link below this post and enter your picks. Be sure you number them exactly as above.

What You Win
The top closest pick gets a $10 free betting account with our sponsor SuperiorBook. The member with the most wins at the end of the season will win a new video Ipod, so get in the contest now.

If you want to bet on these props right now, click here.

You are only allowed one entry per week per site in the BlogLocker.com network.