The New Orleans Saints (12-3) host the Carolina Panthers (6-9) on Sunday as the Saints attempt to win their eighth straight game and enter the postseason on a very high note. New Orleans can clinch a No. 2 seed and first-round bye with a win Sunday and a loss by the 49ers, while the Panthers are looking to win five of six and finish their season at a respectable 7-9.
When examining the Saints offense, there is not much to dislike. They have been simply unstoppable this season.
New Orleans ranks first in the league in offensive yardage per game (457.1) and second in points (33.5). Quarterback Drew Brees is playing at a historic level, passing for a single-season record of 5,087 yards and a 70.7 completion percentage to go with 41 touchdowns.
The Saints have a three-headed rushing attack consisting of Darren Sproles, Pierre Thomas, and Chris Ivory that possesses a cumulative yards-per-carry average of 5.46, a very good number. Sproles, who is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, ranks first among running backs with 81 receptions and 681 receiving yards and first in the league with seven yards-per-carry.
New Orleans also has a tight-end named Jimmy Graham who recently won ESPN the Magazine’s Fan Poll for who is the “NEXT” football star. Graham is only in his second year, but is a very difficult matchup for opposing defenses with his 6’6” 260 lb. frame. He is currently third in the NFL in receptions (91), eighth in receiving yards (1,213) and tied for 11th in touchdowns (10). All three are franchise records for a tight-end.
If there is a question mark for the Saints offense entering the postseason, it is their inconsistency to produce outside of the Superdome. New Orleans is 7-0 at home and its offense is perfectly built for playing indoors. Hypothetically, the Saints could be forced to play the Packers at Lambeau Field come January. The stadium’s predicted near-freezing temperatures will be the most considerably unfriendly conditions the Saints have played in all season long, which could pose a problem for their passing game.
For the Panthers, quarterback Cam Newton has been magnificent in his rookie season. The Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick in April’s draft has exceeded expectations, setting multiple records in the process. His 14 rushing touchdowns is the most ever by a quarterback and his 674 yards on the ground leads his position. More significantly, Newton has proved cynics wrong regarding his passing ability. He has set a rookie record for passing yards (3,893) and has taken good care of the football, throwing four more touchdowns (20) than interceptions (16) while completing 60 percent of his passes.
The Auburn grad, which has been labeled by many as the next big star in all of professional sports, needs just 107 yards this week to become the first quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 500 yards in a season. It seems insane to think he is a mere 22 years of age.
In addition to Newton, running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have had great seasons. Each have amassed 783 and 682 rushing yards, respectively, and are averaging more than five yards per clip. The trio of Newton, Williams, and Stewart accrued 270 rushing yards in last week’s 48-16 win over Tampa Bay and have helped Carolina become the third-best rushing team in the NFL.
Although the Panthers defense ranks among the worst in the league, Carolina has been ravished with injuries among its front-seven, including stud linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis.
The Panthers “D” will hope for a miracle against Drew Brees and company, while the offense will attempt to pound New Orleans with the run and control the time of possession in order to keep Brees on the sidelines. In a matchup with no absence of star-power, look for a high-scoring affair and outstanding quarterback play from both sides in ‘The Big Easy.”
