Move Over, Saints, There's a New Best Offense in the NFC South!

The New Orleans Saints' offense has been regarded as one of the best in the NFL, let alone the best in their division, the NFC South.

This view was indisputable, until recently. Now, the Carolina Panthers could easily challenge the Saints for possession of the most explosive offense in the NFC South.

It all started with the teams' season-openers last week. The Saints gained 438 yards in a 24-20 over the Bucs in a very early division game.

If you break down the total yardage into pass versus rush yards, you get 343 pass yards to 95 rush yards. 

This is all fine and good. But the Saints had all their important offensive starters for this game—Brees, Bush, Colston, Shockey, Henderson, and Patten. Not anymore. 

Their most dynamic receiver, Marques Colston, will be out for up to six weeks with a torn ligament in his left hand.

Colston only had three catches for 26 yards in the game against the Bucs, but he is still an integral part of the Saints' offense, as we all know. 

The Saints' passing game, and eventually the entire offense, will be less effective as a result of Colston's absence. 

With only one truly distinguished, dangerous receiving threat—tight end Jeremy Shockey—opposing defenses will have fewer offensive threats to game plan for. 

The lack of receivers will also make it easier for opposing defenses to play the run more to shut down Reggie Bush (and Deuce McAllister when he returns).

It's obvious that Colston's injury really has the potential to hurt the Saints' offense—and their team in general because of the fact that the defense is still merely decent. At least for the next six weeks.

The Panthers' offense, on the other hand, is getting better, even without their best receiver and most explosive offensive player, Steve Smith, who was suspended for the game (he's also suspended for this week's game). 

In their Week One game against San Diego, the Panthers' top two running backs, DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, ran for 139 yards on 28 carries.

Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme threw for 247 yards and a touchdown. His primary target throughout the game was third-year tight end Dante Rosario, who started to show he could be a premier tight end in the NFL in the near future, with seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.

In addition, receivers D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad played their respective parts, and second-year pro Dwayne Jarrett continued to show improvement.

All in all, the Panthers gained 388 yards in their season opener. Yes, the Saints did gain 50 more yards—but they had all their offensive weapons.

The Panthers were missing their best offensive playmaker in Smith. If he had played, the Panthers probably would have out-gained the Saints by 50 yards.

Colston will be out for up to a month and a half with his hand injury. That denies the Saints their best offensive threat beyond Drew Brees. Because New Orleans doesn't have him at its disposal, their offense will suffer to some degree.

However, with the emergence of Rosario, the offensive line continuing to gel, the improvement in the running game, the fact that Smith hasn't played yet this season, and the Panthers' depth at receiver, the Panthers' offense can only get better. Barring an injury, of course (knock on wood). 

At least for the next six weeks, there's a new offensive power in the NFC South—the Carolina Panthers.