Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó The New Orleans Saints know all about packing for long trips.
Mother Nature isn’t to blame for the latest four-game odyssey that includes a stretch of nine straight days on the road, nearly 12,000 air miles and six weeks away from the Superdome.
Blame it on an unlucky schedule ó and their role in helping the NFL attempt to become a global brand.
The Saints (3-3) visit the Carolina Panthers (4-2) today in a crucial matchup in the surprisingly competitive NFC South. Immediately after the game, the Saints fly from Charlotte to London, where they’ll practice for a week before playing a “home” game against the San Diego Chargers at Wembley Stadium.
They’ll then return to New Orleans for their bye week, before visiting Atlanta and Kansas City on consecutive Sundays.
The next game in New Orleans: Nov. 24 against Green Bay, three days before Thanksgiving, when the Saints will either be playoff contenders or in danger of missing the postseason for the second straight year.
“I guess the challenge, in the end, is that when you’re playing overseas and it’s your home game, somewhere along the line you’re going to have a stretch of games where you’re away from your stadium,” coach Sean Payton said. “Because you’re really 7-9: seven at home, nine not at home.”
The Panthers, 3-0 at home after going 2-6 at Bank of America Stadium last season, need a victory to stay at least tied in the loss column in the NFC South after last week’s humbling 27-3 loss at Tampa Bay.
Inconsistency has plagued John Fox’s Carolina teams. A week after rolling up 205 yards rushing against Kansas City, Carolina had 40 yards on the ground against the Buccaneers. Their 3.6 yards per attempt ranks 27th in the NFL.
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In other games today, Baltimore is at Miami; Dallas at St. Louis; Minnesota at Chicago; Tennessee at Kansas City; San Francisco at the New York Giants; Pittsburgh at Cincinnati; San Diego at Buffalo; Detroit at Houston; the New York Jets at Oakland; Cleveland at Washington; Indianapolis at Green Bay; and Seattle at Tampa Bay.
Denver is at New England on Monday night.
Arizona, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Jacksonville are off.