Dispatches

In consecutive wins over the Buccaneers and the Rams, the Panthers' defense (right) had a combined 10 sacks and six takeaways while allowing only 333 yards. St. Louis gained just 111.... There's no mystery behind the Saints' spell of three losses in four games: They have 12 turnovers during that stretch. In their six wins they've given the ball away just seven times.... Donovan McNabb's torn right ACL, which will keep him out eight to 12 months, means 1) the Eagles have no idea right now who their Opening Day starter will be in 2007, and 2) they'll likely take a quarterback on the first day of April's draft. McNabb's backups are 36-year-old Jeff Garcia and 29-year-old journeyman A.J. Feeley.... When Brett Favre left Sunday's 35--0 loss to the Patriots with an injured right elbow, it marked just the seventh time in his 251 Packers starts that he failed to finish a game because of injury.