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Nov 25, 2009 - 8:46 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Coming off a season when they tied for the best record in the NFC, the Carolina Panthers clearly expected to return to the playoffs. Instead, injuries and poor play are dimming those postseason hopes.

The Panthers will try to overcome an injury-ravaged defense Sunday when they visit the New York Jets, another team fading in the playoff race.

Carolina (4-6) went 12-4 last season, winning the NFC South and matching the New York Giants for the best record in the conference. That success was muted when the Panthers were upset in the divisional playoffs, falling 33-13 to Arizona.

Despite that disappointment, the Panthers were expected to mount another run at the division title this season.

Things haven't worked out that way.

Carolina lost its first three games before seemingly turning around the season with a 4-2 stretch, but a 24-17 home loss to Miami on Nov. 19 may be tough to overcome. It was the fourth time this season the Panthers had a chance to reach .500 but failed.

While the division title is out of reach, Carolina is still within two games of a wild-card spot.

"I'm sure outside of that (team meeting) room, there will be a lot of people that don't give us a chance," coach John Fox said. "Until the math says it, we'll feel like we have a chance."

For the Panthers to return to the playoffs, they must overcome a schedule that includes meetings with division leaders New England and Minnesota, as well as the Giants and currently unbeaten New Orleans.

That schedule may seem more daunting with a myriad of injuries to the Carolina defense, including one to defensive end Julius Peppers that has been defined as a "messed up hand" by Fox.

Peppers, hurt in a loss at New Orleans on Nov. 8, didn't appear on the injury report last week, but was only used on passing downs against the Dolphins. The four-time Pro Bowler is the Panthers' all-time sack leader with 77 1/2 and tops the team this season with seven, but he has none in the last three games.

"No comments on that," defensive end Everette Brown said when asked about Peppers. "I don't really know the situation, what's going on. I won't go in depth about it."

The defense is also dealing with the loss of linebacker Landon Johnson, placed on injured reserve Tuesday after hurting his medial collateral ligament against Miami. It was his second start at weakside linebacker in place of Thomas Davis, who also was lost for the season.

Johnson's injury leaves James Anderson as the likely starter Sunday at New York (4-6).

Fox denied that DeAngelo Williams' sore left knee played a role in him getting only 13 carries last week. He did run for 122 yards, putting him among the league leaders with 982.

Jake Delhomme threw his first interception in four games last week, but it was a costly one as he tried to force a pass to Steve Smith near the goal line. His 14 interceptions are two more than all of last season and two shy of his career high.

The Jets have had their own problems at quarterback.

Coach Rex Ryan is keeping rookie Mark Sanchez as the starter even after he threw four interceptions and lost a fumble in a 31-14 loss to New England last Sunday. During the Jets' current 1-6 slump, Sanchez has thrown six touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

"I just think that he's not going to get better unless he gets out and plays," Ryan said. "It's clearly not just Mark's fault. There's a reason he was named the starter, that I thought he gave us the best opportunity to win, and I still feel that."

One thing that will change is Ryan becoming more involved in other areas after leaving the offense exclusively to coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and special teams to Mike Westhoff.

"I need to be more of the game manager than probably what I even realized before," said Ryan, who calls defensive plays. "There's been some people here that have been critical of that, and it's probably more accurate than I wanted to believe."

Ryan made one big change on the defensive side of the ball this week, demoting starting safety Kerry Rhodes in favor of Eric Smith. Rhodes has started every game of his five-year NFL career, but he has no interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles or fumble recoveries this season.

The Panthers have split four meetings with the Jets, winning the last one 30-3 on Nov. 13, 2005. They haven't visited the Jets since a 48-21 loss Nov. 29, 1998.