Maybe there was no better way for the New Orleans Saints defense to prepare for the threat that Cam Newton will embody on Sunday night.

It was shredded by Russell Wilson.

"If you just write down on paper what it is that they do well, they are very similar," said Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins. "They can extend plays with their legs, they have big arms and can throw downfield.

PREDICTIONS: USA TODAY Sports' Week 14 picks
"This is what we just faced and that is what we are going to face this week."

There's no lack of motivation for the primetime showdown of 9-3 teams at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, with first place in the NFC South at stake.

And there's all types of momentum in the mix. The Saints, undefeated at home, have won their past 10 prime-time games at the Dome. The Panthers carry a franchise-record, eight-game winning streak.

Yet after flunking its test against Wilson during the blowout loss on Monday night, a Saints defense that has been vastly improved under new coordinator Rob Ryan is dealing with its most adversity of the season.

"I think we just had a bad outing, and we will learn a lot from (that) game," Jenkins contended. "It wasn't just the mobile quarterback that killed us, it was the big plays downfield in the secondary that hurt us. And then when we did get some stops, the quarterback would scramble, get a crucial first down and extend the play and the drive.

"There were a lot of things that we can learn from and obviously help us out going forward."
VIDEO: Panthers at Saints preview

While Wilson passed for 310 yards, two of the biggest breakdowns amid busted coverage loomed large -- a 60-yard completion to tight end Zach Miller and a 52-yard strike to slot receiver Doug Baldwin.

As any good leader does, Ryan blamed himself for the mishaps.

"That's the first time this year we turned some people loose, and that's not who we are," Ryan said on Saturday. "We're better than that."

Turning people loose, by Ryan's definition, was leaving targets uncovered. Wilson said after the game that he took advantage of man-to-man matchups against blitzes.

"As a coach, that's definitely on me," said Ryan, who inherited the league's worst-ranked defense in 2012. Entering Week 14, the Saints rank eighth for yards allowed.

"I changed some things up on coverage that obviously caused some confusion on our part, not the quarterback's. But we're going bounce back from that."

PHOTOS: Ranking Week 14's matchups

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16. Texans at Jaguars: A Thursday Night Football matchup to answer the important question: Who truly wants that No. 1 overall draft pick in May?

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15. Bills at Buccaneers: The rookie quarterback battle of E.J. Manuel vs. Mike Glennon is one of the few story lines worth watching.

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14. Browns at Patriots: Josh Gordon has given fans reason to watch Cleveland down the stretch, while the Patriots try to march toward the top seed in the AFC.

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13. Chiefs at Redskins: Washington has already been eliminated from the playoffs, but the Chiefs need to keep pace with the Broncos in the AFC West.

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12. Raiders at Jets: Matt McGloin vs. Geno Smith both have plenty to prove if they want to remain starters beyond this year.

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11. Falcons at Packers: Aaron Rodgers' availability could be the difference as the Packers try to stay afloat for a postseason berth.

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10. Rams at Cardinals: The NFC West's bottom two teams showed signs of revitalized play in November.

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9. Giants at Chargers: Nine years after a draft-day trade, Eli Manning vs. Philip Rivers still makes for good TV.

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8. Vikings at Ravens: Baltimore can continue its surge toward an AFC wild card berth after a disappointing start to the season.

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7. Titans at Broncos: Tennessee might not be up to the task of keeping pace with the Broncos, but Peyton Manning has become appointment viewing.

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6. Dolphins at Steelers: Beating Ryan Tannehill and Co. would keep the Steelers' resurgence in motion, while a loss would deflate their hopes for salvaging a playoff spot.

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5. Colts at Bengals: The AFC's likely third- and fourth-seeded teams still have plenty to prove in the season's final month.

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4. Cowboys at Bears: Monday night's game will help shape the races in both the NFC East and North.
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3. Lions at Eagles: Plenty of points should fly when two of the NFL's hottest offenses meet.
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2. Seahawks at 49ers: The pressure is on San Francisco after a Week 2 drubbing in Seattle in this season's first matchup of NFC West rivals.

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1. Panthers at Saints: NFC South supremacy is on the line when Cam Newton and the red-hot Panthers are pitted against Drew Brees and the Saints.

USA TODAY SportsFullscreenLike this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:Replay1 of 16AutoplayShow ThumbnailsShow CaptionsLast SlideNext Slide16PhotosBeyond the big passing plays, another indicator could come in how well the Saints handle read-option situations.

The Panthers led the NFL in rushing yards last season out of the read option, but have scaled back its use this season -- relying less on Newton's legs and more on his arm and better decision-making in the pocket.

Still, Newton is always a threat, and the Panthers have hardly abandoned the read-option. Under new coordinator Mike Shula (promoted from quarterbacks coach after Rob Chudzinski became the Browns coach), they have selectively used the read-option -- and it has been a viable alternative in the red zone and in third down situations.

That's why the Saints -- whose 6.5 yards per carry allowed this season against the read-option is the league's third-worst average, according to ESPN Stats and Information -- had better be wary.

On Monday night, Wilson stung New Orleans repeatedly on read-option runs as a he rushed for a game-high 47 yards on eight carries.

Now comes the 6-5, 245-pound Newton, who packs his running threat with less quickness that Wilson but more power. He's scored six rushing TDs this season, while growing as a passer. He's on pace for career highs for completion rate (61.7%) and pass efficiency (88.1), which support a reduction in mistakes.

"We've got our work cut out for us," Ryan said. "But we're at our place."
Yes, Newton will have to deal with the noise at the raucous Superdome -- yet another factor.

For Ryan's defense, though, it will begin with getting beyond last week. When someone asked the colorful coordinator whether it is easier to push aside the performance of last week because his unit has played so well for the bulk of the season, he didn't hesitate to respond in typical Ryan fashion.

"Hell yeah," he said. "If we're doing this every week, I wouldn't be here. Yeah, it's easy. Our guys know we've got to play better, but certainly I've got to coach better. That's the first time that happened to me here. I don't like it, and it's not going to happen again."

VIDEO: Seahawks at 49ers preview
Other items to ponder as Week 14 rolls on:
Three intriguing storylines

Return to the 'Stick: If the Seahawks made a statement with their victory against the Saints on Monday night, now it's time for a litmus test. The first time Russell Wilson played at Candlestick Park, he had the worst game of his young NFL career. The Seattle quarterback completed just 39% of his passes (9-for-23, 122 yards) and had a 38.7 passer rating as part of a 13-6 defeat. Much has changed since then, and Wilson engineered the Seahawks' two victories against the 49ers in meetings at Seattle. And during Monday night's romp, Wilson's growth was further displayed as he dissected the Saints schemes with no mercy. So here's the test: If the Seahawks (11-1) are to clinch the NFC West crown and first-round bye this week, they will need to defeat the team that harbors more bad blood for them than any opponent. On their turf. Against their angry defense. One way or another, Wilson, the Seahawks and their Bay Area native coach, Pete Carroll (Marin County), should leave with one last good memory of Candlestick Park, which is set to be demolished in 2014.

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KAEPERNICK: Can he finally beat Seahawks?

Back to the 'Burgh: Mike Wallace returns to Heinz Field on Sunday, and it is even more compelling when considering that the deep-threat receiver will be positioned as a potential swing factor for the playoff prospects for the Dolphins (6-6) and Steelers (5-7), fighting to stay alive in the AFC wild card chase. Wallace proved that speed pays as he landed the NFL's biggest free agency deal during the offseason (5 years, $60 million, $30 million guaranteed), but Miami can still be questioned for investing so heavily on a receiver. Wallace went eight games without a touchdown, an accessory to the issues that Ryan Tannehill had in igniting the deep passing game. But lately, he's come on. Wallace has scored TDs in back-to-back games (12 catches, 207 yards), and perhaps proven that it merely takes a bit of time to get in sync with the new quarterback. The Steelers -- who have seen Antonio Brown blossom to the point that he leads the NFL with 85 catches for 1,103 yards -- felt Wallace was expendable due to the price tag and the notion that he was a one-trick pony of a route runner (go deep). Now Wallace can make the Steelers pay in another sense.

Fight to the finish. With just four teams -- Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Washington and Houston -- officially eliminated from the playoff race, there are so many scenarios to ponder amid the mathematical equations. The Chargers are 5-7, for instance, but can't buy a tiebreaker. Miami is 6-6, but is effectively a game behind the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens because of a head-to-head loss. Let's stop there for a minute. The Ravens (6-6) don't have the motivation of Ray Lewis' last ride, but they will surely need another late-season surge just to make it to January. If you're Denver or New England -- who lost home playoff games to Baltimore last season, and in New England's case, twice in recent years -- this is a team that you don't want to bump into again in January. Including Super Bowl 47, the Ravens are 7-4 in postseason games away from home with Joe Flacco at quarterback. Maybe they're not equipped to do it again, but it is also too early draw that conclusion. Last December, the Ravens were in such a funk that they lost three consecutive games and replaced fired offensive coordinator Cam Cameron with Jim Caldwell. It won't be any easier this time. After hosting the Vikings on Sunday, the Ravens will enter the "virtual" playoffs with a visit to Detroit, a home clash against the Patriots and a visit to Cincinnati. Of the legit contenders, Baltimore has the toughest schedule … but if they survive that will likely loom as the most dangerous wild card in the hunt.

Who's hot: Nick Foles. The Eagles quarterback is so hot that when he finally threw his first interception of the season last weekend against the Cardinals, it was nullified by a penalty away from the ball. When he faces the Lions on Sunday at The Linc, Foles (19 TDs, 0 INTs, 125.2 passer rating) can top Peyton Manning's mark of starting a season (this one) with 20 touchdown throws passes without a pick. More importantly, he can help Philly (7-5) keep the squeeze on Dallas for first place in the NFC East. It's interesting to note that Foles kicked into a higher gear with his NFL-record-tying 7 TDs at Oakland in Week 9, just days after team owner Jeffrey Lurie proclaimed the the franchise still hadn't found its quarterback of the future. Now there's no question, at least for the short term, as Foles has made keeping hamstring-healing Michael Vick on the bench a given as he keeps looking more comfortable in Chip Kelly's scheme. Foles doesn't run like Vick, but few do. Where he's been so much better than his predecessor is in the red zone and on third down -- situations that win or lose games. The next threat to end Foles' interception-free streak comes against a defense that includes DeAndre Levy, who, oddly enough as a linebacker, leads the NFL with six interceptions.

Pressure's on: Andy Reid. The Chiefs coach who has turned a team that finished 2-14 last season into a likely playoff entrant, obviously isn't in any trouble when to come job security. He's a frontrunner for coach of the year. But there's some adversity. After a 9-0 start, Kansas City heads to Washington with a three-game losing streak. Reid is challenged to get a confidence-building win. The defense's dropoff has been striking. After tallying an NFL-high 35 sacks during the nine-game winning streak, the Chiefs have had just two sacks the past three games. Competition is one reason. The past three weeks, the Chiefs have been tested twice against Peyton Manning, and in the other game faced Philip Rivers. And pass-rush terror Justin Houston will miss a second consecutive game with an elbow injury. But there are good omens in play. The Chiefs get to face RG3, suffering behind an offensive line struggling to protect him and sacked 19 times in the past four games. And Reid, 1-3 in AFC West contests this season, is still comfortable in his old division. On Sunday, he'll be looking to complete a season sweep of the NFC East.

Rookie watch:Keenan Allen. The Chargers are getting quite the value for their third-round pick, who heads into Sunday's contest against the Giants leading all rookies with 58 catches for 843 yards. Allen, picked 76th overall from Cal, gained more opportunities after deep threats Malcom Floyd and Danario Alexander suffered season-ending injuries, and it's obvious that he's established some trust with Philip Rivers. Including the past two weeks, Allen has five 100-yard games this season and is 159 yards shy of breaking John Jefferson's franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie (1,001), which has stood since 1978. And anytime a receiver, rookie or not, gets mentioned in the same vein as the extraordinary J.J., he must be doing something right.

Stomach for an upset: Raiders at Jets. Oakland does not travel well, at least over long distances. The Raiders have an NFL-longest 12-game losing streak in games in the Eastern Time Zone, which might be the factor the Jets can pin hopes to, amid so many other dead ends. New York is desperate for a win that will keep wild-card hopes alive … and distressed that it hasn't done more to complement a tough defense. Maybe this will be the week that Geno Smith doesn't commit a turnover. Then again, the odds might be better to hit a Powerball jackpot. Smith's NFL-high 23 turnovers are not just on him (some were, but not all).. His supporting cast -- in particular the receivers -- has been so suspect. New York has the NFL's worst-ranked offense in passing yards per game, yards-per-play, percent of passes intercepted, sacks per play, first downs per game ... you get the picture. The Jets haven't scored a TD in eight quarters (take a bow, Jeff Cumberland), but it seems like much longer. Quick, somebody pass the Maalox.

Next man up: Matt Flynn. As strange as it seems for a team riding a five-game winless streak while Aaron Rodgers mends a fractured collarbone, the Packers remain very much in playoff contention. With a quarter of the regular season still to be played, Green Bay (5-6-1) is just a game-and-a-half behind Detroit in the NFC North. And with the Lions playing at Philadelphia on Sunday and the Bears hosting Dallas, it is so conceivable that the Packers can leapfrog the Bears and end the weekend a half-game out of first place … if they can handle the Falcons at Lambeau. Flynn wasn't so hot at Detroit on Turkey Day (when he absorbed seven sacks), but he's like the only hope for Green Bay to stay relevant for at least another week. Expect the Falcons to load up with 8-man fronts to contain Eddie Lacy, then dare Flynn to beat them with his oft-questioned arm. Maybe Mike McCarthy will try to gain an edge by extensively using the two-minute offense that Flynn has had some success with, as was the case in the tie vs. Minnesota. Then again, a two-minute offense would be so fitting in another sense as the Pack is running out of time.

Stat's the fact: If there were an award for best performance in consecutive losses, the nod would easily go to Browns receiver Josh Morgan -- the first player in the NFL's 94-year history to produce back-to-back 200 yards receiving games. You might have thought that Jerry Rice, Lance Alworth or Randy Moss accomplished this. Not quite. As he heads into Sunday's game at the Patriots, a quick account of Morgan's combined stat line the past two weeks against the Steelers and Jaguars: 24 catches, 498 yards, 3 TDs. That's an average catch of 20.8 yards a catch.

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