The once-dominant Saints are in decline entering their season finale against the Panthers, who have beaten the Vikings and Giants in consecutive weeks.

New Orleans was upset by Tampa Bay in overtime Sunday and has dropped two in a row. The Saints marched out to a 17-0 lead vs. the Buccaneers, but that momentum faded and Connor Barth made a 47-yard field goal to give the Bucs a stunning 20-17 win.

The Saints would have clinched home-field advantage in the NFC with a win, but barring a Vikings loss to the Bears on Monday night, Sean Payton's team will have something to play for in Week 17. If the Saints lose next week and the Vikings win their remaining two games, Minnesota would clinch home-field advantage. Payton said Monday that his squad is going to play all out in the season finale regardless of what happens in the Minnesota-Chicago game.

Payton said the game against the Panthers gives the Saints "an opportunity to correct some things before they matter even more."

The PFW spin

One of the biggest issues facing the Saints is their run defense. They have allowed 321 rushing yards in the past two weeks, 176 of which came from the Bucs, which is a season-high for the 3-12 team. defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' unit is ranked 22nd vs. the run and only three teams have allowed more rushing touchdowns than the Saints, who have given up 18. New Orleans is yielding 4.5 yards per carry.

The porous run "D" will be a significant factor in Week 17 if New Orleans doesn't get the problem corrected in the coming days, as Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart has been on a tear of late. Stewart has 315 yards on the ground in the past two games and Carolina's running game could receive a boost if DeAngelo Williams, who sat out Sunday with an ankle injury, is able to return. Williams rushed for 149 yards and two TDs vs. the Saints in Week Nine.

In order to clamp down against the run, the Saints are going to need better performances from DTs Sedrick Ellis — who missed the Week 15 game vs. Dallas with a sore knee — Remi Ayodele and Anthony Hargrove. This group hasn't done a good job of getting penetration and sealing off gaps in recent weeks and it might have a tough time handling the Panthers' interior O-line, which is led by one of the league's best centers in Ryan Kalil.

The good news for the Saints is WR Steve Smith will be out after breaking his left radius on Sunday, so the Panthers' passing attack will be far less menacing. New Orleans can put extra defenders in the box to try to stop Carolina's rushing attack and won't have to worry about Smith making them pay for it. The Saints probably won't have that luxury, however, against their first playoff opponent.