Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme has enjoyed a lot of success since he signed with the Panthers before the 2003 season. In that time, he is sixth among all quarterbacks in wins. He's thrown a franchise-record 112 touchdown passes, which is seventh amongst all quarterbacks. And just last year, he led the Panthers to a franchise-best 12 wins and an NFC South title.

But the question facing Delhomme as he enters the 2009 season is whether he still has it. In the Panthers' Divisional Round loss to the Cardinals in last year's playoffs, Delhomme threw five interceptions and lost a fumble in a 33-13 loss. Despite the meltdown, the Panthers showed faith in Delhomme in the off-season by extending his contract.

"I was awful. I was absolutely terrible in the playoff game. I've said that. That's one thing I didn't do is run and hide from it," Delhomme said. "Having all of training camp, August 1st the day we reported, you answer that question so much - I don't think about it to be honest with you. It was one of those days. I didn't play well early on and I really pressed after that to keep us in it. I just have to come back out and just try to play football and not try to be someone who I'm not."

Delhomme admitted that going against the Eagles defense in his first game since that playoff loss is an arduous task.

"This is a tough challenge to try and bounce back against a heckuva defense like Philly," Delhomme said.

Delhomme said that even though he knows the Eagles defense underwent some change in the off-season, with the most notable being Sean McDermott's rise to the defensive coordinator post after the passing of Jim Johnson, he doesn't expect there to be much change in the scheme.

"I think you're going to see a lot of the same things," Delhomme said. "It's kind of hard to get away from what works and what works on their defense is the pressure, some great corners and you look across the board where they ranked last year (third overall in the NFL, 1st in the NFC) ... They are a team that really gets up the field. They send pressure on you and they have some outstanding playmakers in the secondary."

Delhomme has even been impressed by rookie Macho Harris, who will start for the Eagles on Sunday at free safety.

"I've watched a lot of film on him. One of our tight ends was a Virginia Tech guy (Jeff King) and had a lot of great things to say about him as a football player," Delhomme said. "I think he's a kid who had some chances and obviously made the most of it. Certainly what helps is that he has some heckuva football players on the back end with him. That's so great for a rookie, especially when you have veteran guys around you. They expect you to play at a certain level and it speeds up your learning curve."

But Delhomme understands that all eyes will be on him and the fact that the Panthers struggled through a winless preseason didn't help. But now is when the games count and when Delhomme has to be ready to win.

"We were nicked up pretty good in the preseason. We're not a very big game plan team whatsoever in the preseason. We're a training camp-install mode type of football team. We go along and react to what we're going to get in preseason games. We're getting some guys back healthy and that's going to help us out. Certainly, I think everybody loves to be all great in the preseason and what not, but let's be honest. It's still the preseason and guys are winning jobs and other guys are held out. Guys know what they need to get ready."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 11:15 a.m., September 12