New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: Week 9 Preview for New Orleans
In their most important game of the 2014 season to date, the New Orleans Saints will hit the road for a Thursday night clash with the Carolina Panthers in a crucial divisional matchup.
The Saints (3-4) and the Panthers (3-4-1) sit atop the NFC South, and the winner of this key contest will jump into the driver’s seat in the division, thus seizing an inside track to a playoff spot.
New Orleans started off slowly this season, but Sean Payton’s squad is coming off its most impressive performance of the year.
Led by quarterback Drew Brees, the Saints offense exploded for a 28-point second half, and New Orleans scored a decisive win over the red-hot Green Bay Packers last week on Sunday Night Football.
While the Saints defense had failed to live up to preseason expectations during the team’s 2-4 start, Brees and the offense had experienced some shaky moments as well, despite putting up big numbers. Against the Packers, however, the unit was hitting on all cylinders, combining an aggressive, vertical passing game with a powerful, downhill rushing attack.
The victory served to set up Thursday’s prime-time showdown with the Panthers, as New Orleans attempts to even its record at the season’s midway point.
Continue reading for a full preview of this critical Week 9 contest.
Week 8 Recap
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The Saints entered last week’s game facing the possibility of a 2-5 start, and they responded with their best showing of the year, throttling the Packers 44-23.
Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers traded blows throughout the first half, as both defenses struggled.
Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan made adjustments in the second half, however, and his heavily-maligned group tightened up in the third and fourth quarters.
Brees was back to his old, efficient self, and he fed the ball to a host of talented playmakers. Tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Travaris Cadet played key roles in the passing game, as did wideouts Brandin Cooks, Kenny Stills and Marques Colston.
The ground game was also a major factor in New Orleans’ win, as feature back Mark Ingram rolled up 172 yards on 24 attempts for an average of 7.2 yards per carry.
The Saints offensive line earned high praise for its performance in the game, especially interior linemen Jahri Evans, Ben Grubbs and Tim Lelito. The group continually paved running lanes for Ingram, while tackles Terron Armstead and Zach Strief fended off a pair of dangerous Green Bay pass-rushers in Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers.
With the victory, the Saints served notice to the league, and to the NFC South in particular, that they wouldn’t be shut out of this season’s playoff picture without a fight.
News and Notes
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Saints-Panthers Rivalry
The Panthers joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1995, and since then, they’ve been a division rival to the Saints. The two teams were previously members of the NFC West, and when the divisions were realigned in 2002, the rivalry lived on in the NFC South.
Carolina leads the series 20-18, while New Orleans has won five of the last eight.
Last season, the Saints scored a decisive 31-13 victory over the Panthers in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Carolina returned the favor just two weeks later, winning 17-13, when Cam Newton tossed the game-winning touchdown pass with less than a minute remaining. The Panthers went on to claim the NFC South crown, while the Saints were forced to earn a wild-card spot to get into the playoffs.
On the Road: The Struggle is Real
The Saints have dropped their last seven road games in the regular season, and they’ve lost 14 of their last 20.
While New Orleans is undefeated at home, the club’s results on the road have been, at times, shocking this season. The Saints held a 23-10 advantage at Detroit two weeks ago, but they gave up 14 points in the game’s final 3:38 to fall 24-23.
In the Week 2, New Orleans dropped a 26-24 squeaker to the Cleveland Browns in a contest the Saints were fully capable of winning.
If the Saints are to get over the hump and score a victory on the road, Thursday night is the perfect time to do it. New Orleans is coming off a huge win, while its homestanding divisional foe is still licking its wounds from a tight loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday.
Injury Report
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According to the team’s official site, NewOrleansSaints.com, the Saints have three key players listed as out for Thursday’s game.
Running back Pierre Thomas (rib/shoulder), linebacker David Hawthorne (hand) and fullback Austin Johnson (knee) won’t be suiting up for New Orleans against Carolina.
Meanwhile, running back Khiry Robinson, who missed last week’s game, was held out of Wednesday’s practice with a forearm injury and is listed as questionable.
Tight end Jimmy Graham (shoulder) was limited in practice on Wednesday, as were center Jonathan Goodwin (knee/ankle) and linebacker Kyle Knox (ankle). All three players are questionable for the game.
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X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
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Erik Lorig vs. Luke Kuechly
With starter Austin Johnson out, Erik Lorig will man the fullback position against the Panthers.
Lorig signed with the Saints this past offseason as a highly regarded free agent, but he was sidelined by a nagging ankle injury for most of training camp, and it has carried well into the season.
The former tight end provides the Saints with a formidable receiving threat at the fullback position, but on Thursday night, he’ll serve as Mark Ingram’s lead blocker. This means he’ll get well-acquainted with Carolina middle linebacker Luke Kuechly, who happens to be one of the top defensive players in football.
Kuechly was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year last season, and although his numbers have dipped a bit, he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the middle of coach Ron Rivera’s defense.
When the Saints line up in the I formation, Ingram’s success on the ground will largely depend on Lorig’s success against Kuechly. Either way, this should be a fun matchup to watch.
Saints Defensive Front vs. Panthers Offensive Line
The battle up front is always one of the most important elements of the game, but this particular matchup commands special attention due to the injuries the Panthers have piled up along the offensive line.
According to the Panthers' official site, Panthers.com, Carolina will be without starting left tackle Byron Bell, as well as starting guards Trai Turner and Amini Silatolu. Rookies will likely attempt to fill the void at two of these spots, as the Panthers’ official depth chart has David Foucault listed behind Bell at left tackle and Andrew Norwell next in line behind Silatolu at left guard.
Cam Jordan, Akiem Hicks and Brodrick Bunkley are primed for a big day against this makeshift unit, as is outside linebacker Junior Galette, whose pass-rushing skills will come in handy against the inexperienced Foucault.
If the Saints can dominate the point of attack on the defensive side, the Panthers could be in for a long night, especially if they’re having to play catch-up to Brees and the New Orleans offense.
Saints' X-Factors of the Week: Cam Jordan and Junior Galette
The Saints’ primary pass-rushers will both, at times, find themselves opposite a rookie at the Panthers’ left tackle position, but winning that first matchup is only half the battle.
Waiting behind his offensive line is hulking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who can beat defenses with both his arm and his legs.
The Saints will have to contain Newton from the outside in, and they’ll have to be careful not to overpursue. Also, it’s imperative that New Orleans’ pass-rushers bring the 6’5”, 245-pound signal-caller to the ground when they do get their hands on him.
If anyone’s up to the task, it’s the Saints’ duo of Jordan and Galette, who have both stepped up their play in recent weeks.
Prediction
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The Saints are still on cloud nine after dispatching the Packers on Sunday night, but they’ll have to come back down to Earth for this important divisional contest.
New Orleans did a lot of things right in the three-touchdown victory, particularly on offense, and Payton’s club will be looking to carry that newfound rhythm over into Thursday’s game at Carolina.
The Panthers are banged up on the offensive line, but their proud defense still poses a challenge to Brees and the Saints offense.
If New Orleans can once again establish a reliable ground game with Ingram, however, the passing game will have a far easier time lifting off. When the Saints are clicking on offense, Rob Ryan’s defense is likely to take cue and make plays.
This one will be close, but look for the Saints to grind out a hard-fought victory on the road.
Prediction: Saints 23, Panthers 20
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