CHARLOTTE As much as they've struggled throwing the ball lately, the Carolina Panthers could at least count on their running game.

CHARLOTTE The Carolina Panthers stayed close to home to fill their open roster spot, promoting practice squad linebacker Kelvin Smith to take the place of the injured Thomas Davis.

CHARLOTTE The Carolina Panthers got the worst-case scenario news which they feared Monday, when tests revealed linebacker Thomas Davis suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s loss at New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS For the last seven years, it was the small things that worked for the Carolina Panthers when they came to New Orleans.

On Sunday, they all broke wrong, and that left them with more than one big problem.

NEW ORLEANS For a half, or most of one, it seemed the Carolina Panthers' defense was in control of this one.

NEW ORLEANS Having DeAngelo Williams run wild used to mean a sure win for the Carolina Panthers. But that was before Williams had a fumbling problem.

CHARLOTTE For all the plays Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers made last week, there's a sense among those around him that they're only seeing the beginning of what he could do.

CHARLOTTE Last week was good, make no mistake.

But the Carolina Panthers know that unless they follow up with a win today at New Orleans, the gains of last week's road upset at Arizona won't mean nearly as much.

The Panthers have won seven straight on the road against New Orleans, though it has been far from easy and normal. A look at the Panthers' run of success down on the bayou:

CHARLOTTE The Panthers seem up in the air about their kicking situation for the weekend, as veteran John Kasay missed his second straight day of practice.