Regeln » Chiefs are converting 40 percent of red-zone opportunities

NEW ORLEANS -- If Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wants to get healthy, the NFLs reigning offensive MVP could not find a better tonic than the New Orleans Saints defense.Newton, who sat out the Panthers ugly 17-14 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night due to repercussions from the concussion he sustained in a Week 4 loss to Atlanta, returned to practice Wednesday in a limited role ahead of the Sunday road game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome (1 p.m. ET, FOX).Although Panthers coach Ron Rivera couldnt promise Newton would start Sunday against one of the leagues weakest defenses (allowing 422.8 yards and 32.5 points a game), Newton participated in team drills and looked frisky in working through the NFLs protocol for returning from a concussion.At 1-4 and buried in the NFC South cellar, the Panthers, far removed from the team that sailed through the last regular season at 15-1, sorely need a booster shot of classic Newton against the Saints (1-3). New Orleans is coming off a wild 35-34 victory over the San Diego Chargers two weeks ago and is fully rested after a bye week.(Newton) looked good and threw the ball pretty doggone well (in practice Wednesday), said Rivera, who also gave first-team reps to backup QB Derek Anderson. He was involved with the plays we had scripted for him. Well see.Although Newton has struggled this year in comparisons to his 2015 MVP season -- he has five interceptions to go with six touchdowns -- the Panthers realize they will need him if they are to claw back into the NFC South race against the Falcons (4-1). Last season, Newton threw 35 TD passes against 10 picks.Carolinas ground game has been so anemic this year that Newton, with 147 yards on 29 carries, is the Panthers second-leading rusher, accounting for 24 percent of the teams rushing yards. He also has taken plenty of hits -- 13 sacks in four starts.(Im) just really happy that hes better, center Ryan Kalil said. To have Cam not feeling like he was last week and seeing him more like himself was really good for all of us.Saints coach Sean Payton is well aware of what Newton can do when healthy. Newton torched the beleaguered Saints defense in a 41-38 victory in the 2015 regular-season finale, passing for 331 yards and five touchdowns.In our case, were preparing for him, Payton said. We feel hes going to play. I think thats the only way to approach it, and yet we understand the strengths and weaknesses of Derek.Payton said he realizes the Panthers are a wounded team but have plenty of pride after reaching the Super Bowl last year.I dont think our teams going to take any team lightly, Payton said. Were sitting here at 1-3. I think its a silly question. We know the team were playing is a championship-level team that has lost some tough, close games. Were going to have to be at our best.Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having a stellar season at age 37, averaging 317.3 yards a game on 65.9 percent completions with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Brees played well in two close losses to Carolina last year, and he will not have to face cornerback Josh Norman, who signed in the offseason with the Washington Redskins.As I analyze them and from what Im looking at from a defensive perspective, I think theyre as good now as theyve been, Brees said. I know theyve had some tough losses, just like we have. We know exactly what theyre capable of, and we know the mindset they have coming in this week, needing a win just like we do.After Carolinas young corners -- rookies James Bradberry and Daryl Worley -- were embarrassed by allowing Atlantas Julio Jones 12 catches for 300 yards, Rivera said they bounced back in the close loss to Tampa Bay. But they will be right back in the fire against Brees.All you have to do is watch the tape (of Brees), and its scary, Rivera said. Drew Brees is a tremendous triggerman. He uses all his targets.Rivera believes his team will show some fight after the unexpected 1-4 start.Were a team that has been in touch situations before, Rivera said. The biggest thing we have to do is stay focused on what the task at hand is.Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly added, You dont expect to start out this way, but its a situation we are in now, and its all about how youre going to respond from it. New Orleans Saints Shirts . -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks after tearing his left hamstring. Saints Jerseys 2020 . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. https://www.saintsjerseyssale.com/ . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Stitched Saints Jerseys .C. -- Rodney Hood connected from all over the court while freshman Jabari Parker was busy swatting shots and scoring in transition. Wholesale Saints Jerseys . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. TAMPA BAY (4-5) at KANSAS CITY (7-2)Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FoxOPENING LINE -- Chiefs by 7 1/2RECORD VS. SPREAD -- Tampa Bay 3-6, Kansas City 4-5SERIES RECORD -- Buccaneers lead 6-5LAST MEETING -- Buccaneers beat Chiefs 38-10, Oct. 14, 2012LAST WEEK -- Buccaneers beat Bears 36-10; Chiefs beat Panthers 20-17AP PRO32 RANKING -- Buccaneers No. 26, Chiefs No. 4BUCCANEERS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (14), RUSH (17), PASS (16)BUCCANEERS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (27), RUSH (25), PASS (23)CHIEFS OFFENSE -- OVERALL (26), RUSH (20), PASS (22)CHIEFS DEFENSE -- OVERALL (22), RUSH (27), PASS (13)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- Buccaneers have won four straight in series. Chiefs won four previous games. ... Tampa Bay had four first-half takeaways in win over Chicago last week. ... Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate has TD receptions in last three games. ... QB Jameis Winston has 2,349 yards and 19 TDs passing, most by Tampa Bay quarterback through nine games. ... Buccaneers RB Doug Martin needs one TD rushing to pass Reggie Cobb for fourth most in franchise history. ... Buccaneers WR Mike Evans has eight TD receptions, tied for most in NFL. ... Tampa Baay LB Lavonte David has 11 tackles for loss, second most in NFL.dddddddddddd ... Kansas City has won five straight overall. ... Chiefs are converting 40 percent of red-zone opportunities, worse than all but two teams in NFL. ... Kansas City WR Tyreek Hill had career-high 10 catches for 89 yards in last weeks win at Carolina. ... Kansas City leads NFL in turnover differential (plus 14). ... Chiefs K Cairo Santos is 8 for 8 on field goals last two weeks. ... Chiefs RB Spencer Ware is tied for fifth in NFL with 112 yards from scrimmage per game. ... S Eric Berry had fourth career interception return for TD last week, tied with LB Derrick Johnson for fourth most in Chiefs history. ... Chiefs LB Dee Ford has 10 sacks, tied with Buffalos Lorenzo Alexander for NFL lead. ... Fantasy Tip: Chiefs have struggled in past to stop opposing tight ends. Look for Brate to get into end zone for fourth straight game.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '