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Cam Newton keeps a black and yellow broom he was "gifted" by the Saints hanging in his locker Alvin Kamara Jersey Stitched , some omnipresent motivation after what happened a year ago when the Panthers met up with their NFC South rivals.New Orleans swept Carolina, winning both regular-season games in 2017 before eliminating the Panthers from the first round of the playoffs in January with a 31-26 win at the Superdome.The rematch is never far from Newton's mind."If you need any type of boost, kind of chip on your shoulder versus (these guys) I have a constant reminder each and every day when I look in my locker," Newton said, who will renew acquaintances Monday night with the Saints, a team he said "doesn't like."Newton said the broom came from the Saints, although he wouldn't disclose which player.Newton also received a bottle of "Jordan" red wine this past offseason from nemesis Cam Jordan, the Saints dominant defensive end. Jordan had promised to send Newton some "juice" if the Saints swept the Panthers."Disrespectful," Newton said flatly.The broom remains in its plastic wrapper and Newton said he would like to stamp it "return to sender" if Carolina (6-7) can somehow manage to beat New Orleans twice in the next three weeks and sneak into the playoffs as a wild-card team. The Panthers currently trail the Vikings by a half-game in the battle for the second wild card spot, but are given only a 9 percent chance of making the postseason.Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said: "I know about the wine, not the broom 鈥?but whoever sent the broom is a comedic genius."Meanwhile, the Saints (11-2) have already locked up their second straight division title and are aiming for home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Rams are also 11-2, so there's no room for error."They got the juice, but at the end of the day we are coming Monday with a cup for our own, too," Newton said."Listen, they're a prideful group Youth Alex Anzalone Jersey ," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "They're well-coached and their backs are against the wall, so we're going to get their best performance."STIFLING STREAKThe Saints' defense has been among the NFL's best the past five games after looking like arguably the worst through the first three weeks of the season.A 48-40 opening-week loss to the Buccaneers and 43-37 overtime win vs. the Falcons had New Orleans ranked last in points allowed per game through the season's first few weeks. Now, the Saints are on a five-game run of allowing 17 or fewer points, the latest being a 28-14 victory at Tampa Bay last Sunday.Linebacker Demario Davis said the transformation stems from players staying focused on their goals, learning from mistakes and trusting the coaching staff."You want to throughout the season perfect your process and, at this point, your process should be pretty much perfected," Davis said.JORDAN STEPPING UPJordan has been a big part of the Saints turnaround with 12 sacks."He's exceeded my expectations," Davis said of Jordan. "I knew he was one of the top pass rushers in the league, but to see firsthand the impact he has on games it's phenomenal."STOPPING McCAFFREYThe Saints will surely be keying on Christian McCaffrey, who has become Carolina's all-purpose running back in the same mold that Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner once used Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.McCaffrey rarely leaves the field for Carolina, and with 926 yards rushing and 701 yards receiving, he has a legitimate shot to join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk as the only players in league history with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season.He has also scored 12 touchdowns in the past seven games.NO SMALL BREEZEBrees has averaged 302.4 yards passing with 13 TDs and four INTs in past seven games vs. Carolina.Panthers coach Ron Rivera said the key will be to get pressure on Brees up the middle, similar to what the Cowboys were able to do against the Saints a couple of weeks ago, and to not fall for his pump fakes."We have to stay discipline," Rivera said.INGRAM'S MARKRunning back Mark Ingram can make his mark on the Saints' franchise record books with one more touchdown run. He has 49 for his career Alex Anzalone Jersey Stitched , tying him with Deuce McAllister.McAllister is still around team headquarters often. He is a color commentator on radio broadcasts of Saints games. Ingram has referred to McAllister as a mentor and Saints second-year running back Alvin Kamara said it's apparent that McAllister wants Ingram to break his record, which has stood for a decade."When the team has success, individual accolades will follow," Kamara said. "So that's just a testament to him, not focusing on him, but focusing on the team and what helps the team get better and be successful."AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report. Five years removed from a Super Bowl championship, the Baltimore Ravens bring a sense of urgency into the 2018 season.Much has happened — little of it good — since general Ozzie Newsome, coach John Harbaugh and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco teamed to beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in January 2013.Since then, the Ravens have gone 40-40, had two winning seasons and reached the playoffs once. Baltimore was on the brink of earning a wild-card berth last December before a last-minute defeat at home against Cincinnati put an abrupt end to a 9-7 season.So now, Harbaugh is being pressed to reverse the team's recent downturn. He isn't necessary done if Baltimore doesn't reach the playoffs, yet there's no guarantee he will survive the inevitable fallout."I'm not going to give a 'playoff or bust' edict to my coach," owner Steve Bisciotti said. "(But) he's under as much pressure, probably, than he's ever been in his life. I expect him to keep his chin up and take his positivity and his talents and make the most of this season."Newsome will be handing the reins to assistant GM Eric DeCosta in 2019, so the only GM the Ravens have ever had is doing his best to go out with a splash. Newsome signed several free agent receivers to help out the 33-year-old Flacco, who struggled last season and now has an eager rookie chasing him on the depth chart.There's also a new defensive coordinator in Don Martindale Youth Trey Hendrickson Jersey , whose goal is to make the unit representative of the region."I think this defense is starting to take along the personality of the city, like all the great Ravens defenses do, from Dundalk to West Baltimore to Carroll County," Martindale said. "I like how we're coming together. I like how we're not flinching."No need to be tentative. Not now. Without a doubt, the Ravens will be in full attack mode in their effort to reach the postseason.Some things to know about the 2018 Ravens:ROOKIE QBFirst-round pick Lamar Jackson could be the Ravens quarterback of the future, but he most certainly is not the quarterback of right now.Flacco has been the starter since 2008, his rookie season and Harbaugh's first as Baltimore's coach.Jackson won a Heisman Trophy at Louisville and is deft on his feet, but Baltimore is past the point of letting a rookie QB gain experience on the job.Jackson will make the team, but the big question is: Will Robert Griffin III also land on the 53-man roster?"That's one that's going to go right to the wire," Harbaugh said, "and it will be dependent on a lot of factors."PLENTY OF TARGETSFlacco will be working with a rebuilt receiving group after struggling last season getting the ball downfield.Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman repeatedly failed to get separation last year, one big reason why Flacco finished with a meager 5.72 yards per attempt average.So Newsome attacked the free agent market, signing Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown."All of them have had just an excellent camp," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "All three of them have stayed healthy, or reasonably healthy. They're all three very smart guys."Brown gives the Ravens the deep threat they've been missing since Torrey Smith in 2013. Crabtree is solid in the middle of the field Trey Hendrickson Jersey Stitched , and Snead has good hands and big-play potential.RUN FIRSTIn a league that's built for passing, the Ravens have always been about establishing the run.With Marshal Yanda, Ronnie Stanley, James Hurst and 345-pound Orlando Brown Jr. on the line, Flacco won't be reluctant to give the ball to Alex Collins.Collins rushed for 973 yards last year and Javorius Allen added 591.NO JIMMY SMITHThe Ravens must play the first four games of the season without standout cornerback Jimmy Smith, who was suspended for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.Playing without Smith is nothing new — he missed the last four games last year with a torn Achilles tendon and has played in 16 games only twice in seven seasons."We feel confident in who we have in the personnel," cornerback Brandon Carr said. "We're just looking forward to getting guys on the field to see how they perform out there."INJURIESIn addition to Smith, the Ravens will start the season without tight end Hayden Hurst, who had foot surgery, and defensive tackle Willie Henry (hernia surgery).Hurst, Baltimore's top draft pick, will miss around three weeks and Henry will be sidelined "a few weeks," according to Harbaugh.Hurst was expected to take over for departed tight end Benjamin Watson, who led Baltimore with 61 catches last year.Henry played in 14 games last year before a thigh injury ended his season in November. He had 32 tackles and 3陆 sacks.