Saints 2023 Week 2 Preview
New Orleans Saints Visit the Carolina Panthers
After a season-opening victory against the Titans, New Orleans will look to clean up mistakes and move to 2-0 when they take on division-rival Carolina Panthers in a prime-time matchup. The Saints are coming off a 16-15 win. Carolina and number one overall pick, Bryce Young, fell in Atlanta to the Falcons by a score of 24-10.
The Matchup:
Derek Carr has secured his first home win for the Saints, but now he will have to head on the road and lead the team. As for Young, the former Heisman winner from Alabama is searching for his first professional victory. Week 2 will be his first opportunity to play in front of the Charlotte crowd while he looks to impress. The game will be nationally broadcast from Bank of America Stadium on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at 6:15 p.m. CST on ESPN. Carolina will play hard at home and look for a bounceback performance, attempting to avoid an 0-2 divisional record. New Orleans can set themselves up nicely with back-to-back victories to begin the season; they haven’t done so since 2013.
Series History:
The Panthers are the youngest franchise of the NFC South teams since being erected in 1993. Since then, the Saints have played Carolina 57 times, once in the postseason. New Orleans leads the all-time series 29-28, but the Panthers have won the previous two contests after sweeping last season, the latest being a 10-7 victory in the 2022 finale at Caesars Superdome.
Team Rankings Comparison:
| Rank (Week 1) | Saints | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 1-0 (3rd NFC South) | 0-1 (4th NFC South) |
| Scoring Avg. | 16.0 (24) | 10.0 (28) |
| Opp. Scoring Avg. | 15.0 (7) | 24.0 (23) |
| Total Off. | 351.0 (8) | 281.0 (17) |
| Rushing Off. | 69.0 (28) | 154.0 (5) |
| Passing Off. | 305.0 (5) | 127.0 (26) |
| Total Def. | 285.0 (17) | 221.0 (5) |
| Rushing Def. | 104.0 (20) | 130.0 (27) |
| Passing Def. | 181.0 (15) | 91.0 (3) |
| Turnover Margin | +1 (8) | -3 (22) |
| Penalties | 7 (14) | 9 (8) |
| Penalty Yards | 45 (21) | 66 (11) |
Current Injury Report:
Saints-
Kendre Miller, RB, Questionable, Hamstring
J.T. Gray, S, Questionable, Shoulder
Payton Turner, DE, IR, Turf Toe
Jake Haener, QB, Suspended
Alvin Kamara, RB, Suspended
Titans-
Taylor Moton, OT, Questionable, Bicep
DJ Chark Jr., WR, Questionable, Hamstring
Jaycee Horn, CB, Doubtful, Hamstring
Brady Christensen, OG, IR, Bicep
Final Thoughts/Prediction:
Based on previous meetings, this game has the potential to be quite chippy. Both squads are vying for a big win, especially under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. Carolina has playmakers, and we all know how good Bryce Young can be, but if the Saints’ defense plays anything close to how they handled the Titans, this will be a lopsided final score. If you’re the Saints, you have to see improved efficiency from the offense and find the end zone more than once. The Panthers will hope to keep this one low-scoring and give a chance to the young team, but I believe Carr hooks up with Thomas and Olave for touchdowns in this one en route to a 30-13 victory for New Orleans.
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