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Carolina’s defense seems to have its swagger back.

Now, can it keep it?

As well as Carolina’s defense played last week against the Arizona Cardinals in recording six turnovers, it can’t afford a letdown this week against the league’s top-ranked offense in the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints are putting up video game numbers, averaging 428.7 yards and 39 points per game. Quarterback Drew Brees is having an MVP-type season with his 16 touchdown passes, tied for most in the league. He’s already eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark in passing.

And he has help. As impressive as the Saints have been throwing the ball, they’re also fourth in the league in rushing.

But the Saints strength is their passing game, which means something will have to give Sunday when they…

It was third-and-8 and Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams appeared bottled up at the line of scrimmage. The television camera was fixed on the scrum — before jerking to the right while Arizona players looked on in bewilderment. Williams had bounced off three defenders, sneaked through a tiny hole and was 13 yards downfield.

For a speedy guy, football success has come slowly for Sherrod Martin. He had to wait a year after high school before enrolling at Troy, then was hampered by two shoulder surgeries and a broken hand in college. Martin was buried on the depth chart at cornerback in his first training camp with Carolina.

TEMPE, Ariz. – For much of their history the Arizona Cardinals haven't had to deal with success.

DeAngelo Williams was dominant and set a team record, Julius Peppers was spectacular and Sherrod Martin came out of nowhere to produce two of Carolina's six forced turnovers. Yet the game ball from the Panthers' surprisingly easy 34-21 win over Arizona Sunday went to the guy who spent the fourth quarter getting a CT scan: embattled quarterback Jake Delhomme.

Jake Delhomme left Arizona a winner, even if he had to take a trip to the hospital before he left town. The embattled Carolina quarterback, whose downward spiral began with a playoff loss at home against Arizona last season, threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith before leaving with a chest injury in the Panthers' 34-21 victory over the Cardinals on Sunday.

Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme was checked out at a local hospital after injuring his chest against the Arizona Cardinals. Delhomme went down on a big hit from the Cardinals' Chike Okeafor and Darnell Dockett with 5:59 left in the third quarter. He came back to play the next series but was replaced by Matt Moore in the fourth quarter.

Carolina fullback Brad Hoover hurt his right ankle and was carted off the field in Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Hoover was hurt in the waning seconds of the third quarter. He sat up in the cart with his right leg propped up as he was taken from the field.

Arizona safety Antrel Rolle and wide receiver Anquan Boldin are active for Sunday's game against Carolina after being listed as questionable. Rolle had not practiced until Friday because of a sore right foot. He was limited in Friday's workout. Boldin was limited in practice all week with a lingering ankle injury.

By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer