HOUSTON (AP) – Mike Rucker and Brentson Buckner would make great directors of the Julius Peppers highlight film. His fellow defensive linemen on the Carolina Panthers already have some clips picked out.

Rucker’s favorite came in the preseason, when Peppers leaped to block a pass, was hit around his knees, flipped and still managed to land on his feet.The one Buckner remembers best was “seeing how quickly he goes from zero to 60” after Peppers intercepted a pass against Dallas in the playoffs and returned it 34 yards. They’re both good picks. Yet there’s one thing missing – something from his specialty, rushing the quarterback.

His versatility is typical of what makes Carolina’s defensive line so tough. Any offensive line that concentrates on trying to stop Peppers is risking Rucker getting to the quarterback from the other side, or letting Buckner or Kris Jenkins come up the middle.

“Stopping their front four is the key to being successful against Carolina, and it’s probably the toughest thing to accomplish,” said New England left tackle Matt Light, who will mostly face Rucker in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

“All those guys are very good athletes, very talented and had a lot of success this year. It’s going to take a great effort to beat them.”

Led by the line, Carolina’s defense was one of the best this season. They’ve been even better in the playoffs.

They started by shutting down a Cowboys offense that had its way against the Panthers six weeks earlier, then kept it up against St. Louis. While Rams coach Mike Martz was criticized for playing conservatively in that game, Carolina should be credited for influencing his decision.

The Panthers were at their best in the NFC championship, holding Philadelphia to just a field goal. Carolina intercepted four passes, recovered a fumble and knocked out quarterback Donovan McNabb.The Patriots will be another stiff test. Their line hasn’t allowed a sack in the playoffs, despite losing starter Damien Woody to an injury before the AFC championship.

New England’s offense isn’t fancy. Quarterback Tom Brady manages a balanced run-pass system that lacks a headliner at receiver or running back. It works because they’re efficient and have few weaknesses.

Whatever the Patriots try, Carolina will be ready, especially up front. Rucker said the beauty of the line is that they stop running backs as well as quarterbacks.

“When a team comes in here, they’re not saying, “Hey, this guy is just going to run upfield, so we can trap him or we can draw him or just block down against him,”‘ Rucker said. “They can’t do that. We’re all going to stop the run, we’re all going to pass rush.”

Rucker led the team with 12 sacks. Peppers had seven, although he pressured quarterbacks another 32 times, 12 more than Rucker. Jenkins had five sacks, as did reserve end Al Wallace.

Still, the unquestioned attention-getter is Peppers.

“He definitely does some crazy things with his body,” he said. “You would think you’d tear a muscle doing the things he can do.”

“When that ball is snapped and I’m running at the passer, I don’t have a clue what I’m going to do. I’m just reading him and going off whatever he does.”

Look out, Tom Brady. The cameras will be rolling Sunday.