Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints: Complete Week 14 Preview for Carolina
The Carolina Panthers (3-8-1) have had a disappointing season, and despite being five games under .500 they're still in contention to win the division. Only a game and half separates them from the division-leading Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints (5-7).
Despite this fact, it appears more and more likely that the Panthers will be spending the postseason at home, as the collective performances of the team have disappointed each week.
Carolina would still have to win out to win the NFC South, but now help is needed to get there. A win against New Orleans would be a good start, but the Saints had their number in Week 9, when the Panthers fell 28-10 at home. History hasn't been kind to the Panthers playing inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as they have only won once in three trips to the Big Easy during the Ron Rivera-Cam Newton era.
There have been personnel changes since the last time these teams locked horns, and it's likely there will be a lot of fresh faces making an appearance Sunday. The next few slides will shed more light on that issue, but if Carolina is to escape town with a win, there needs to be a lot of adjustments and better play from the Panthers on both sides of the ball.
It's more likely Carolina will be in play for a high draft pick than a postseason berth. New Orleans may have a losing record, but the Saints are still a dangerous team. However, on any given Sunday, anything can happen, and that is why the game is played.
Carolina Panthers' Week 13 Recap
1 of 5
Not much is needed to be said here, as the Carolina Panthers found another way to beat themselves on the road.
The Panthers traveled to frigid Minneapolis last week to take on the Minnesota Vikings and were pummeled to the tune of 31-13. The Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater outplayed Cam Newton and seemed to make better decisions when throwing the ball. As a unit, the Minnesota offense looked a lot more in sync than Carolina.
However, the story from last week was the play of the Vikings' special teams unit. Twice the Vikings blocked Brad Nortman's punts and returned both for touchdowns. Had the unit not scored 14 points, the final score may have been closer.
Despite the final score, Carolina's starting defense only allowed 17 points. Still, the Panthers offense was only able to muster 13, so a loss was perhaps the most likely outcome.
Much like the previous losses, Carolina missed out on an opportunity to keep things in its favor within the division.
News and Notes
2 of 5
Roster Changes See Two Gone, Two Promoted
Cornerback Antoine Cason and linebacker Jason Williams were waived earlier this week, and Carolina promoted cornerback Carrington Byndom and linebacker Horace Miller to the 53-man roster. Both of the new additions were undrafted, with Miller spending the preseason with the Seattle Seahawks before being picked up by the Panthers during the season.
As for the cuts, Cason wasn't much of a surprise, as he was ranked 111th among 117 qualified cover corners in the league, per Pro Football Focus (h/t PFF's Pat Thorman). He had a couple of miscues in the first meeting with New Orleans, and needless to say, he didn't do much to improve his job security.
Williams was a curious move, as he had spent much of his career with the Panthers as a special teams player. Hopefully, the guys replacing them will see better success.
Carolina Running Back Hurt...Again
DeAngelo Williams broke his hand against the Minnesota Vikings last week and is day-to-day. According to Panthers.com, the coaching staff will continue to evaluate Williams and determine if he can play this weekend.
This has been an all-too-familiar theme for Carolina this season, and despite the low production from the backfield, losing Williams could be detrimental to the offense. However, Jonathan Stewart played well last week and set a season high in rushing yards with 85. Factor in the return of Mike Tolbert, and the loss of Williams may not be an issue at all.
Getting Behind Early Is Hurting Carolina
It has been noted on Bleacher Report and many other sports sites that the Carolina Panthers are not the type of team built to come from behind. Falling into an early hole has been very detrimental to the Panthers this season, and going up against New Orleans does not make life easier for Carolina.
ESPN.com's David Newton broke down the time in which Carolina has been behind this season, and it comes to an astounding 375 minutes and 37 seconds. The only way the Panthers can combat these early deficits is to play sound, fundamental football. That means move the chains, make the most of scoring opportunities, limit turnovers and play with discipline.
Philly Brown Emerges
One player making the most of his chances is rookie receiver Philly Brown. Last week, the 22-year-old caught a 32-yard pass from Cam Newton for a touchdown. It was his second score of the season, and the play more than justified the release of Jason Avant earlier that week.
In a season that has been shrouded in disappointment, the young receivers have stepped up in a big way. Brown may not have the name power that Kelvin Benjamin has, but he is leaving an indelible mark on the organization as the season winds down.
Injury Report
3 of 5
| Player/Position | Injury | Game Status |
| Mario Addison, DE | Foot | Probable |
| Kony Ealy, DE | Illness | Probable |
| Ryan Kalil, C | Illness | Probable |
| Star Lotulelei, DT | Ankle | Probable |
| Greg Olsen, TE | Knee | Questionable |
| Amini Silatolu, OG | Knee | Out |
| DeAngelo Williams, RB | Hand | Out |
By the close of business on Thursday, only three players had participated in practice. Those players were Mario Addison, Star Lotulelei and Greg Olsen. Based on that information, each should be available on Sunday. Knowing that a key member of the offense like Olsen was in practice should be reassuring to fans who have had little to be optimistic about over the last few weeks.
DeAngelo Williams could miss Sunday's game. According to Panthers beat writer Joe Person, Ron Rivera said that Williams is pretty much ruled out this weekend. The same was said of Amini Silatolu in Person's tweet. The offense having injuries is nothing new, but at this point, it would be nice to see some of its players stay healthy and on the field.
Injury report courtesy of Panthers.com.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
X-Factors and Matchups to Watch
4 of 5
Carolina Rush Defense vs. Mark Ingram
It's no secret that opposing running backs are having a lot of success against Carolina's defense. Mark Ingram discovered that firsthand in Week 9 by rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns. It's a bit surprising to see a New Orleans running back turn in that kind of day on the ground considering the Saints offense is pass-oriented.
If the Panthers are to stop an encore performance from Ingram, their defenders will have to win the battle up front, plug the holes and not miss any tackles. The Saints showed they could be a threat on the ground as well as in the air. And if that trend continues on Sunday, it will be another long day for Carolina.
Carolina Secondary vs. Jimmy Graham
Just like Ingram was the rushing leader for the Saints in Week 9, Jimmy Graham led the way in the receiving game with seven catches for 83 yards and a score. Shutting him down is never easy, and the Carolina secondary will have its hands full once again.
In an offense that features many effective weapons and one of the game's elite quarterbacks, isolating one player is not enough. However, Graham is Drew Brees' favorite receiver and will look for him often.
The Panthers need to force him to look somewhere else, and by making Graham a non-factor, Carolina's defensive backs will press the other receivers to make plays. Still, neither assignment is easy with this offense.
Mike Shula vs. Rob Ryan
If Carolina is to be competitive and score more than 10 points in this meeting, Mike Shula will have to open up the playbook and throw Rob Ryan off his game. In Week 9, New Orleans was able to sack Cam Newton four times, intercept him and force a fumble.
The Panthers offense needs to be better disciplined on its possessions and maintain ball control. Shula is a very conservative coach, and that could make him an easy target for Ryan's defense Sunday. Finding success could come if Shula thinks outside the box and throws something at the Saints defense it's not looking for.
Carolina's X-Factor of the Week: Cam Newton
It's a given that the Carolina offensive line is about as inept it gets in the NFL when it comes to pass protection. Cam Newton should know this and adjust his game to counter the weakness up front. But that's easier said than done.
Newton has struggled with his accuracy this season, especially during the Panthers' current losing streak. He will need to find a way to release the ball quickly and on target to his playmakers. Unless the Carolina defense plays lights-out football, the only way it will be able to stay with the Saints is matching them score for score. That starts with Newton.
Prediction
5 of 5
It would be nice to think the Carolina Panthers will defeat the New Orleans Saints inside the Superdome. The reality presents a very harsh truth: The Panthers are not very good this year. Even though the Saints have not played as well as they have in recent years, they are still a tough team to beat—even more so on their own home turf.
A low-scoring affair may be the only way the Panthers come out of this with a win. If this game turns into a shootout or Carolina gets behind early, the advantage swings in the Saints' favor based on personnel. New Orleans lacks a strong defense, and if Carolina can make the adjustments to exploit that weakness, the Panthers may have a chance.
However, there has not been much evidence to suggest that Carolina has what it takes to beat its rival on the road. That being said, by day's end on Sunday, the Panthers will most likely be out of contention for the NFC South title.
Prediction: New Orleans 33, Carolina 17
Team and player news provided by Panthers.com, ESPN.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
