Saints aim to top Jets in playoff hunt

NEW ORLEANS » Saints running back Alvin Kamara dismisses the notion that anxiety is creeping into New Orleans’ locker room following two losses in the club’s past three games.

New Orleans now has little margin for error in a tight, three-team NFC South race, but Kamara asserts, “We know what our team is made of.”

“I don’t think there’s been a drop-off in the confidence or the energy,” added Kamara, who sounds eager to resume his exceptional rookie NFL campaign, during which he has amassed 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Kamara missed most of last week’s loss in Atlanta with concussion symptoms, but was cleared to practice this week and said he will play when New Orleans (9- 4) hosts the New York Jets (5- 8) on Sunday.

The Saints sound somewhat angry coming off their 20-17 loss in Atlanta in Week 14. Despite several disputed penalties that went against them, the Saints were threatening to take a late lead until Drew Brees threw an uncharacteristic interception in the end zone.

Soon after, coach Sean Payton drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that deprived New Orleans’ defense of any chance to get the ball back before time ran out.

“A lot of guys felt like we should have won that game,” Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins said. “A lot of guys had some real ill feelings toward that game, so definitely add that to our preparation this week.”

New Orleans leads Carolina (9- 4) in the division by virtue of a head-to-head victories and leads Atlanta (8-5), which visits New Orleans in Week 16, by one game.

The Jets remain alive for a wild- card spot, but are a long shot — two games out with three games left. The bigger story line for New York appears to be whether third-year NFL quarterback Bryce Petty, pressed into his first start this season by an injury to Josh McCown, can salvage his career.