2 weeks Ago
New Orleans Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor (1) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) for the third time during at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.
com ) Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The New Orleans Saints face the Carolina Panthers in a divisional game between teams with the worst records in the NFC. The Saints (2-6) are trying to snap a 6-game losing streak, while the Panthers (1-7) are trying to end a 5-game skid. Here are the four burning questions for Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium.
Is this a must win for Saints? The simple answer is an emphatic YES. The Saints need a win. Dennis Allen needs a win.
They can't let the losing streak continue, especially against the team with the worst record in the NFL. This is the perfect opponent to get back on track. The Panthers are bad on offense and equally bad on defense.
The Saints shellacked the Panthers 47-10 in the season opener on a day when new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak seemed like the answer to all the Saints’ problems. Fast forward to the first weekend in November and the Saints don’t look anything like they did then. It’s now or never.
Is Carr the problem solver? Derek Carr has missed the past three games nursing an oblique injury. Rookie Spencer Ratter took his place and lost all three games by double digits. While Rattler may have a bright future, his time as Carr’s replacement showed that he is still a work-in-progress.
The Saints have missed the veteran presence of Carr. Other than receiver Rashid Shaheed and center Erik McCoy, the offense now have the same pieces it had in the first two weeks of the season when it averaged 45.5 points.
This is a chance to show they can get back to that form. Or at least close to it. Can they keep Young in check again? The Saints’ defense, much like the offense, needs to get back to its old form.
They have been ok at times, but they have a tendency to give up big plays at the most inopportune times. The good news is they face second-year Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who they've dominated each of the previous three times they faced him. Young has completed 48 of 99 passes for 451 yards with one touchdown pass and two interceptions in the three games.
The Saints have sacked him 12 times (4 in each game). This will be Young’s 20th NFL start. He’s won just two games and Saints need to keep it that way.
Which team can stop the run? Both teams will try to run the ball. It’s the one thing the Panthers, specifically Chuba Hubbard, do well. Hubbard is averaging 5 yards per carry and his 74.
1 yards per game ranks fifth in the league. The Saints, on the other hand, are 28th in yards allowed on the ground, although they showed improvement last week against the Chargers. On the other side of the ball, expect a heavy dose of Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill since the Panthers are tied with the Cowboys at dead last in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (154.
6). The Panthers traded receiver Diontae Johnson this week, so they are now missing the guy who was their top receiver, so running will be even more important..
