Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints Preview

The Carolina Panthers enter yet another critical game in their last ditch attempt to make the playoffs. Truthfully the wins by Atlanta and New Orleans should have killed it off last week. However math is a stubborn thing, and the math can still work with help from our divisional opponents.

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A loss to the New Orleans Saints this week, however, should end that idea forever. Should we wish for a swift end? Or do we want the season to creep on, only to end later?

Whatever we wish for, we will be using a new secondary to face Drew Brees. Josh Norman will be out there with other young guns Bene Benwikere and Tre Boston. They will be depending on help from the linebacker level to contain Jimmy Graham. The line will have to show that they can stuff any Saints running game.

Date: December 7
Time: 1:00 PM
TV: Fox
Venue: Superdome (New Orleans, LA)

Nov 30, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) reacts to fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. The Saints won 35-32. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Opponent: New Orleans Saints (5-7)

The Saints still rely on Brees, but they can be had. That only seems to happen if you can score at the same rate that they do. The Panthers have not shown that kind of consistency on offense lately, but they could pull something out of the hat with Cam Newton and Kelvin Benjamin.

Alternatively, the Panthers could try to run a ball control game against the three man line of the Saints. That relies on the Panthers linemen to show more consistency that they have been healthy enough to show. Jonathan Stewart had a pretty effective game against Minnesota last week.