New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton didn’t outright say whether he will sit his starters for the team’s regular-season finale against the Carolina Panthers. All Payton said was that he’ll approach Week 17 like any other regular-season game.

“I'm going to specify for the fourth time — you ready? — I can't be any more clear, all right?” Payton said per Herbie Teope of NFL.com. “We're going to approach this game just like we would a regular-season game, and if there's any changes to the lineups, I'll keep you posted. I'm done answering that question. That's four in the last 24 hours.”

The Saints head coach added he doesn't have a general philosophy on resting starters, pointing out each team is different with their respective strategies.

It would be a major surprise if the Saints were to play their starters against the Panthers considering they don’t have anything left to play for in Week 17. They have the No. 1 seed in the NFC all locked up after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers by virtue of owning the tie-breaker with the Rams.

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Payton now has the opportunity to give 39-year-old quarterback Drew Brees, as well as top playmakers Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, another week’s worth of rest on top of their first-round bye in the playoffs.

The extra rest should do Brees a lot of good considering how his stats have dipped late in the season. Over his last four games, Brees has thrown for an average of just 214 yards with three total touchdowns against three interceptions.

The Panthers game should give backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater his first significant piece of action as a member of the Saints.