From a playoff perspective, the Panthers versus Saints matchup means absolutely nothing. Both teams were eliminated from postseason contention during Week 17 action. On a positive note, the Saints can close the season with a 4-0 record after the bye week. They had finished the last three games without the mistakes we saw before the debacle with Tampa Bay occurred. The last time New Orleans faced Carolina, they seemed to be a team still searching for an identity. Since the Week 3 matchup, a lot has changed for both clubs.
Carolina has a new voice at head coach Steve Wilks, who is currently a placeholder. However, the team bought into the vision that he was trying to convey. With Wilks as interim HC, the Panthers position themselves for a shot to win the NFC South. As for New Orleans, they currently have a different face at the quarterback position when they replaced Jameis Winston with veteran signal-caller Andy Dalton.
With Dalton under center, the Saints’ offense went through various phases on how they would be productive. Despite the many miscues, the Saints would remain in playoff contention for a significant portion of the 2022 campaign. Regarding Sunday’s game, the Saints must be prepared to deal with the Panthers’ vaunted rushing attack. Since parting ways with Christian McCaffrey, the Panthers have utilized a running back-by-committee approach that has paid off. On the offensive side, New Orleans must continue to make intelligent decisions regarding being productive on offense.
However, Carolina’s weakened secondary is where the Saints can succeed in Sunday’s game. The Panthers’ top corners, Jaycee Horn and Donte Jackson are gone for the remainder of the season with injuries. The absence of both Horn and Jackson was evident in last Sunday’s must-win game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady threw for a season-high 432 yards and three touchdown passes.
Brady’s teammate Mike Evans torched the Panthers’ secondary for 207 yards and three touchdown throws from Brady. Can the Saints offense have the same success that Brady and the Bucs achieved against Carolina? It’s highly possible, but don’t get your hopes up if you are Saints reading this post. For most of the season, Saints head coach Dennis Allen’s approach has been conservative at best.
Prediction
The Saints did not reach their top priority this season: to win the NFC South and go on a deep run in the playoffs. But tomorrow, they can finish the 2022 campaign on a positive note. Based on the vibe around the team right now, they will finish the year with a 4-0 record. The Saints win by 14.
Panthers 20, Saints 34
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