METAIRIE, La. — Even before they reach the midway point of their schedule, the New Orleans Saints begin a five-day stretch Sunday that could make or break their season.

It may not be critical at this point, but it certainly is an important stretch if the Saints (2-4) hope to turn around a season that took another turn for the worse with last Sunday’s 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Seemingly in charge with less than four minutes to play, with a chance to even their record at 3-3 and pull into a virtual tie for the NFC South lead, the wheels came off completely when the Saints gave up two touchdowns to the Lions.

Now, things get even tougher for the Saints. They host the Green Bay Packers (5-2) on Sunday night and three days later have to get on a plane and travel to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a Thursday night matchup with the Carolina Panthers.

But as far as Saints coach Sean Payton is concerned, it’s first things first — and nothing else — for his beleaguered team when he was asked about the two-games-in-five-day grind.

“Yes, here’s the thing though, the most important thing is this week’s game,” Payton said. “You go crazy trying to look down the road, and you really can’t mentally. I know this: this weekend we play Green Bay on Sunday night, and obviously, we are going to be on a short week after that.

“(Green Bay) is the focus right now because we are playing a team that is coming in with four straight wins playing really good football. … The focus for us will be right on Green Bay.”

At this point, Payton won’t even allow himself to think about an NFC South race that looks like it will be very much up for grabs with the Saints and Atlanta Falcons basically one game behind the Panthers.

“Listen, the focus is more internal and more on our team,” he said. “I am sure guys are aware … guys are aware of who is playing well. There is so much coverage of it. But really, the focus is on ourselves.”

Perhaps he felt that way after reviewing the game tapes. Payton said the Saints, despite the late collapse, looked like a different team in the first 56 minutes than the one he saw earlier in the season.

“(The loss to the Lions) can be very difficult and very frustrating, and yet, I think it is important they recognize that here are some of the things that were different,” he said, “this is what we saw differently, this is why we resembled a little bit more of the team we expected for the first time. That’s encouraging.”

NOTES: Among players not practicing Wednesday were RB Pierre Thomas (shoulder, rib), RB Khiry Robinson (forearm), C Johathan Goodwin (knee) and ILB Kyle Knox (ankle). … Among those limited in Wednesday’s practice were TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder), CB Keenan Lewis (knee), NT Brodrick Bunkley and ILB Ramon Hunter (ankle). … TE Tom Crabtree was re-signed Monday after being released Saturday. … DE Glenn Foster (ACL) was placed injured reserve Monday and will have surgery Sunday. … OT DeMarcus Love was signed to the practice squad and C Alex Parsons was released from the practice squad.