by SHELDON MICKLES; Advocate sportswriter; , The Advocate

That changed in a flash Monday night when Michael Turner burned them for 151 yards in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, who finished with 161 total rushing yards and a healthy 6.7-yard average on 24 carries.

If Turner was trouble in reeling off runs of 37, 24 and 22 yards, the Saints may be facing double-trouble today in the person of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart when the Carolina Panthers (3-4) and Saints (7-0) meet in the Superdome at 3:05 p.m.

With Williams and Stewart combining for 979 yards in just seven games, the Panthers, who rank fifth in the NFL in rushing with 148.9 yards a game, will be a stern test for the Saints . After ranking eighth a week ago, the Saints are 11th in rush defense at 102.1 yards per contest.

While Turner is more of a power runner, Williams and Stewart are slashers. Williams has piled up 619 yards and five touchdowns, while Stewart has added 360 yards and scores TDs.

Add it up and it's not good news for the Saints , who'll be without the defensive tackles who started the season -Sedrick Ellis and Kendrick Clancy - because of knee injuries. The Saints put Clancy on injured reserve Saturday and signed DeMario Pressley from their practice squad.

That means Remi Ayodele and Anthony Hargrove will start on the inside and take on a heavier burden against the Panthers' running attack.

"When you're running the ball the way they're able to run it, it's not just the runner or just the offensive line," Saints coach Sean Payton said. "It involves a lot of different aspects, and they're a challenge because of that."

Williams and Stewart were a handful for the Saints in two losses to the Panthers a year ago. Stewart had 68 yards and a TD and Williams added 66 yards at Bank of America Stadium, then Williams gashed the Saints for 178 yards, while Stewart added 56 in the season finale in the Superdome.

Together, they rushed for 368 yards and averaged 4.8 yards on 77 carries.

But that was under former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs. With Gregg Williams in charge, the Saints have made a considerable jump before falling back after allowing 298 rushing yards to the Falcons and Miami Dolphins the last two weeks.

The Saints have also played the last two games without strongside linebacker Scott Fujita, one of their top run-stoppers, and will likely do so again today since he hasn't practiced all week with a strained calf.

"Fortunately, we were able to hang in there and come up with enough plays (against Atlanta)," Payton said.

Saints defensive end Will Smith said the game against the Falcons wasn't a concern because of Turner's ability. He made the Pro Bowl last season after rushing for 1,700 yards.

"I don't think it's a concern, but it's something that we need to focus on," Smith said. "We missed a couple of tackles here and there and had a couple of missed assignments on alignments, things that we have to touch up."

Weakside linebacker Scott Shanle concurred.

"We had a few misfits, and when you do that in the NFL you're going to get creased," he said. "A lot of the big runs (Turner) had were a result of that."

But Carolina's two-headed monster presents a tougher assignment. The Panthers have cranked out 653 yards the last three weeks - including 267 in a 28-21 win at Tampa Bay on Oct. 18 and 270 last Sunday in a 34-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

"They're two guys that have our respect," Shanle said. "Last year they kind of had their way with us. It's tough to shut them down, but they ran pretty much at will. We'll definitely need a lot of team-tackling this week."

If they can slow down Williams and Stewart, the Saints would still have to contend with wide receiver Steve Smith, who's also been a thorn in their side with 11 catches for 256 yards and a TD last year.

But it all starts with their running game, said quarterback Jake Delhomme.

"That's how we're built, I don't think there's any doubt," said Delhomme, a former University of Louisiana at Lafayette star. "That's how coach (John) Fox wants it. That's kind of the way it is. It's the way we've always tried to do things here, some years better than others, but that's what we try to do every game - try to establish the run."

That'll be even more important this week for Delhomme, whose turnover troubles dating to the Panthers' startling loss to the Cardinals in the NFC Divisional playoffs in January have been well documented.

Starting with that game, Delhomme has thrown 18 interceptions and lost three fumbles. That's something to remember against a Saints defense that already has 21 takeaways, which is tied for the NFL lead, and six defensive touchdowns.

The Panthers were minus-14 until last week when they had no giveaways and six takeaways against the Cardinals to get back to minus-8.

"I think we were playing good Football, but when you play giveaway Football in that many games - when you're minus-14 - you're lucky to be 2-4," Fox said. "We turned it around last week, but (minus-8) is still not very good. Once we can clean that up, we'll have a shot."

Panthers at Saints

when: 3 p.m. today.

where: Superdome,

New Orleans.

TV: Fox.

radio: WYPY-FM, 100.7

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