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A major problem is that with the exception of Seattle, Tampa and Jacksonville (unless Fred Taylor is injured), the rest of the teams they face are mostly passing based and losing a veteran safety is devastating. Look at the Green Bay Packers after Leroy Butler retired, they've used about 4 guys and still haven't found a guy that can do even half as good as Leroy.
2) Here's my problem with your reasoning thus far. You state that the Saints suck and won 9 games, but the Panthers are dangerous and won 7 games. Why is it nothing on the one hand to miss the playoffs by 1/2 a game, but an accomplishment to never have been in the running? This only works if each team played in different leagues all together, which isn't the case.
The Panthers aren't going to win any titles, but they are a very very young team and this year are entering in with 16 more games of experience and 16 more games of Fox's system. The Saints are getting on the other side of things, and with these new guys they're throwing into their system, it's going to take them time to adjust. It also isn't any good that they get Julius Peppers twice before mid-season as he is extremely focused and has been training like he has something to prove. Notice how I have it set up? They lose the first one, but win the rematch after the new line learns how to handle Peppers and company after having to play a few weeks up against insanely good lines.
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One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"
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