Saints 2023 Week 14 Preview
Panthers prowl down to New Orleans for NFC South Divisional Duel
Saints are coming off a fresh and dramatic loss to the Detroit Lions yet still that have a shot at winning the NFC South division. Atlanta and Tampa Bay may have won, but the Saints have the 1-11 Panthers in the dome and should be a game we win. The Falcons are facing Buccaneers, and despite it making the top of the NFC South even more crowded, a Bucs win is ideal for the Saints. With the current records of the NFC South all being abysmal, winning the NFC South title is the only way to get a playoff spot as the divisional games late make it hard to think anything but winning them all is a clear path to the playoffs.
The Matchup:
The NFC South showdown between the New Orleans Saints (5-7) and the Carolina Panthers (1-11). The Panthers are playing for pride, and a new head coach at this point, so while their record may say one thing, a young and hungry team in the same division may punch the Saints early, it is all about not allowing them to find a groove and keep them with their head down. The game will be held on Sunday, December 10th, 2023, at the Caesars Superdome at noon CST and broadcast live on FOX.
Series History:
New Orleans Saints vs Carolina Panthers will be one of many with the Saints holding a slight edge at 30-28 in the head to head matchup. They have played each other since the 1995 season and share the same division so the games are always going to be played with an extra edge. While it feels like the Saints should have an overall better record, our best years with Drew Brees were some of the Panthers best years as well as they had Cam Newton from 2011-2019 where he won Rookie of the Year and league MVP.
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 12) | Saints | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 5-7 (3rd NFC South) | 1-11 (4th NFC South) |
| Scoring Avg. | 21.4 (20) | 15.9 (29) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 21.3 (18) | 26.1 (31) |
| Total Off. | 348.3 (12) | 267.3 (30) |
| Rushing Off. | 105.1 (18) | 96.0 (26) |
| Passing Off. | 243.3 (10) | 171.3 (30) |
| Total Def. | 322.5 (14) | 306.0 (7) |
| Rushing Def. | 125.5 (24) | 125.2 (23) |
| Passing Def. | 197.0 (7) | 180.8 (5) |
| Turnover Margin | +4 (10) | -7 (28) |
| Penalties | 76 (16) | 81 (26) |
| Penalty Yards | 692 (26) | 652 |
Current Injury Report:
Saints:
Panthers:
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
This game can be as important or as pointless as the teams make it. The Panthers have a sneaky good defense while the Saints have a surprisingly good YPG offense between the 20s, the only thing that matters is POINTS. If the Saints make this a game I expect Carolina to steal it, but if the Saints make Bryce Young see ghost again I am not sure the Panthers have much of a choice. This could be the confidence booster or the season ender for the Saints. Either way, WHO DAT!
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