Team still behind Delhomme

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Frustrated, yes. Ready to give up on the quarterback, no.

Those were the essential sentiments of the Carolina Panthers defense Sunday after a 17-6 loss against the New York Jets in Giants Stadium -- a game in which Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme threw four interceptions, increasing his season total to a career-high 18 (with five games remaining).

“It's tough,” said linebacker Jon Beason, who had a more palatable career-high statistic Sunday of 17 tackles. “But the conversation during the game, the conversation after the game and the conversation (with the media) is to continue to do our job. Don't point fingers.”

If the defense had shown some frustration with Delhomme, though, Delhomme would have understood.

“If you're a defensive player, why wouldn't you be (frustrated)?” Delhomme said. “You played your tail off. Why wouldn't you be?”

The Panthers defense did a credible job against the Jets, holding the league's second-ranked rushing offense to 139 yards (they had been averaging 163.5 per game) and 283 total yards. Thomas Jones, the Jets' leading rusher, had 75 yards, with a long run of 16 yards.

The Panthers also forced three turnovers – two fumbles and an interception of rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.

“We can't sit here and part ways with the offense and say they've got to get better,” said linebacker Na'il Diggs. “Hey, we've had our days, too, and they've come through for us. I'm sure they've wished we would do things differently sometimes, too.”

Diggs said the best thing for a defense, when its offense is struggling, is to not to feel sorry for itself. Just go out and play.

“It's not that you're getting back on the field sooner than you want,” he said. “We always like the challenge of being on the field. It's kind of an opportune time for us. You look at it optimistically. It's a chance for us to make a play, get an interception, put it in the end zone ourselves.”

Strong safety Chris Harris took it a step further.

“We don't even worry what's happening on the other side of the ball,” he said. “We can't get into that game. We do what we do. Our job is to play defense, whether we're coming out there and the ball is on our 10 (yard line) or the other team's 10. They don't pay us to know our offense. I couldn't tell you one offensive play we have. All we can do is control what's on our side of the ball.”

Harris, who forced one of the Jets' fumbles, said the defense still has faith in Delhomme.

“Absolutely,” Harris said. “He's our quarterback, our leader. Everybody has tough times. But tough times don't last; tough people do. And he's a very tough person. He'll bounce back.”

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