The coach of the New Orleans Saints gave the Carolina Panthers a brutal massage.
Against the Panthers’ passing game, the Saints’ pass defense should have the upper hand.
With a 5-7 record and a losing streak of three games, the New Orleans Saints stutter into Week 14. The Saints, who are currently in third place in the NFC South, play the 1-11 Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a game they absolutely must win. The Saints’ defense, which has struggled mightily over the previous seven games, will need to step up if they are to start winning again. They have given up an average of 19 points, 240 yards, and 58% of third down conversions in just the first half during that time.
New Orleans dropped to 15th in total defense heading into Week 14. Despite having nearly the highest number of forced turnovers in the league, they have allowed an average of 21.3 points and 322.5 yards per game. Their problems have primarily been against the run, but they have also conceded key plays against the pass and experienced coverage breakdowns.
After just 11 games, Carolina fired coach Frank Reich due to his offensive shortcomings. The offense led by interim coach Chris Tabor is ranked 30th in total yardage (267.3), 24th in third down conversions, and 29th in points scored (15.9/game). In nine of twelve games and in their last six games, the Panthers have been held to fewer than 20 points, even though they selected quarterback Bryce Young with the first overall draft pick. The Saints will need to get past a serious weakness in themselves before they can return to their formidable pass defense from earlier in the season.
Bryce Young (9) of the Carolina Panthers throws against the New Orleans Saints. Required Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Jim Dedmon The Panthers rank 30th in the NFL with a pitiful 171.3 yards per game through the air. Bryce Young has thrown nine touchdowns and nine interceptions while completing 60.6% of his passes. But in his last five starts, he has been limited to less than 195 yards and, in four of those games, a completion percentage of less than 60%.
Young has the agility to make plays with his legs and is a composed pocket passer. With only 161 yards rushing, he is not a prolific runner, but he did manage two 17-yard scrambles earlier this season against a Saints defense that has shown little resistance to mobile quarterbacks. He is the Carolina team’s future since he has demonstrated amazing accuracy at every defensive level.
The young quarterback of the Panthers has just not had enough playmakers surrounding him. With a career-high 80 catches for 753 yards and four touchdowns, wide receiver Adam Thielen, a ten-year veteran, has had a very successful season. At this point in his career, Thielen is better suited for a supporting role even though he has three games with 100 yards or more and three more with over 70.
WR Jonathan Mingo, a second-round rookie selection, is a physically gifted receiver with good potential. Mingo has 355 yards on 34 receptions, but he hasn’t crossed the end zone and has struggled to gain separation. When acquired last offseason, sixth-year wide receiver D.J. Chark was anticipated to be a better big-play threat, but things haven’t worked out.
Chark has only hauled in 23 passes for 319 yards and three scores. Terrace Marshall, a former second-round pick, is still below average, having only 18 receptions for 134 yards and no touchdowns. Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Mike Strachan are merely members of special teams. The running backs are not frequently targeted by the Panthers. Miles Sanders and Chuba Hubbard have together caught 50 passes for 291 yards, primarily as check-down options. They are all skilled playmakers with outstanding vision in the open field.
Despite their injuries, Carolina’s tight ends are productive when they’re well. Despite having only 18 receptions for 184 yards, Hayden Hurst is a receiver who is underappreciated. Their blocking specialist, Tommy Tremble, has 13 catches for 3 touchdowns. Additionally, Young hasn’t been given any time by the Panthers for receivers to get open. This season, quarterbacks from Carolina have been sacked 47 times, which is fourth most in the NFL. Interior protection is the main source of their problems. At center, Bradley Bozeman hasn’t performed up to par. Since Austin Corbett and Brady Christensen were injured, guards Justin McCray and Nash Jensen have not performed well.
Ikem Ekwonu, a linebacker for the Carolina Panthers, was drafted sixth overall in 2022, and he has performed to the level expected of him. Among the few reliable building blocks in Young is him. Although less reliable lately, seasoned RT Taylor Moton is still a strong blocker.
With just 197 yards allowed per game and just two quarterbacks who have thrown for more than 260 yards this season, the Saints are seventh against the pass. Against New Orleans, opposing quarterbacks are only completing 59% of their passes, and the Saints have the second-most interceptions in the NFL.
