Well, here we go again. Carolina and New Orleans were the class of the NFC South in 2013, and their two meetings both had huge playoff implications. Now they each sport a far worse record than they did that season, but Thursday night's game in Charlotte will determine who will lead the division going into November.
New Orleans put together its best game of the season Sunday night, dismantling Green Bay, 44-23. But that was at home, where the Saints are generally at least 14 points better than they are on the road.
Here's how the standings look at the top of the NFC South right now. Carolina's tie with Cincinnati actually puts it .009 ahead of the Saints, who have played one fewer game:
Carolina 3-4-1 .438
New Orleans 3-4-0 .429
If the Panthers win Thursday night, they will go to 4-4-1. New Orleans will be 3-5. But if Carolina loses, the Saints go to 4-4, Carolina is 3-5-1 and suddenly the late-season game in New Orleans (where the Saints are much tougher to beat) will become almost a must-win for Carolina. I don't like the Panthers' chances in the Bi Easy; far better to go ahead and win in Charlotte Thursday night and not let the Saints get running room in front of the division.
Carolina has already lost as many games as it did in all of the 2013 regular season, but it is not without hope. The 13-9 loss to Seattle Sunday featured a return to the defensive form of 2013 for the most part -- although it was another home-cooked heartbreak -- and the Panthers have a win against one division leader (6-2 Detroit) and a tie against another (Cincinnati).
But Drew Brees was hot Sunday night, and the Saints' defense intercepted Aaron Rodgers more in one game (twice) than he had been picked off all season coming in (just once). It should be a showdown.
Note to TV viewers: Thursday night's game can be seen locally on CBS affiliates. In the Charlotte area, our news partner WBTV (Channel 3) will carry the game.
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20 comments:
SCAM Newton will find a way to bollocks it up....LOL!
I suggest if you can't post something worth a dam don't comment at all MARCONI
Start Derrick...bench Super Dud
Rare we couldn't put it in the endzone once while down there Sunday. It seems Shula went for a bathroom break once we hit the redzone each time. Inside the 5, you can't turn and hand the ball to a runner 5yds deep when you have so much versatility in your QB with TEs/WRs itching to catch a pass. Put Cam on the roll. If we come out with the same intensity against the Saints as yesterday, we should be fine.
If the Saints play the Panthers the way they played Green Bay, and the Panthers continue to struggle in the red zone, it will be another losing effort. The defense is nearly helpless against accurate passers.
It's beginning to look like last season was fluke.
Prediction: Panthers go 7-8-1 for the season....
Please be in line for the game at least an hour ahead of time to get through those very pleasant security personnel and have the opportunity to buy the $10 warm beers. Check out how many empty seats there are on Thurs. night. Unfortunately, Cam has too many other things on his mind (the bright lights, the highlight reels etc.) to show up....this might resemble the games we played against Pittsburgh and GB. Saints by 8 1/2.
Scott how an the hell the panthers will win we have a team that Sucks. I will tell you who will win Thur. night game and it will be the Saints. The panthers will not win rest of the season.
A battle of the losers Thurs. night.
For the 10000 time, BENCH CAM!!! He is HORRIBLE! DA is the much better option for this team going forward. We are five years into this Cam experiment and we are worse off today than when we drafted him. He is not a leader and not a winner, but he does have a nice smile.
I am surprised that none of the Panther's coaching staff will not tell Cam Newton to knock off all of the show boating that he does and concentrate on becoming a more stable leader of the team. When things go bad, Cam runs to his towel over his head and sulks.
To Anonymous.......get bent,goober! My statement about SCAM Newton stands!
If the Saints look anything like they did last night they'll dismantle the Panthers.
Straight up question Scott, do you think the that Cam has improved since his rookie season? Do you still see him as the starting QB (notice I didn't say leader) of this team going forward? Are you willing to even think for a second that all the hyping you and the rest of the media did around Cam was a bit premature?
It's very apparent to anyone with their heads out of the sand that this team is leaderless on the O side of the ball. I don't care how many times this guy smiles and mugs for the camera, I just want a leader and a winner on the field. Since Cam got here, I have yet to see either.
Merritt: Yes, I think he has improved since his rookie season, both in leadership and in recognizing defenses. He is more banged up now and not quite the runner he was then, but he is more accurate and, Sunday notwithstanding, makes fewer glaring turnovers. My thought on the offense is that it lacks 2 things: 1) a consistent offensive line and 2) a consistent No.2 receiver. Cam, to me, is not the problem.
When I bought my season tickets, I was counting on having a complete team out there. I expected we have AT LEAST as good a team as last year. After we traded away the receivers and had half of the offensive line retire, it is obvious we are not the same team. I paid to see Greg Hardy play and get sacks. Can I get a partial refund? Long time fans are getting fed up...folks from Yadkin County who have never been to a game are fired up to get to BOA stadium. But, the long timers' patience is def wearing thin.
If we had a consistent offense line then maybe our quarterback can look for receivers instead of throwing the ball too early or having to hand it off everythime to a very inconsistent running back staff. Do I think Cam is overrated? NO. Do I think he is not playing so well? YES but to be a better quarterback you have to have better protection.
How is a record of 3-4 .429? It should be .375.
Saints by 40 as Drew puts on another clinic for the 4 year rookie.
Scott, He has Olsen and Benjamin, and that's pretty rich.
Add me to the list of those who think #3 would be a better option. I hope we trade #1 to a team that sees the value you do--perhaps the Jets or the Jags of the American Football Conference.
To scott
Is that your rebuttal for merritts comments, really! River boat ronny should be set adrift to sink down the river. As for cam he should be released at the end of the season, ever consider weather or not steve smiths comments might of been true from what ive seen all ex panthers receivers from last year are doing better on other teams. As long as you accept and make excuses for cam you will get excuses and failures. Funny how the backup has more touchdown our the past 2 games than your self righteous qb? Btw you said cam was more accurate how many time this season has he over/under thrown receivers how many times has he outright thrown interceptions either to be caught or dropped. As for your next excuse you would place the blame on the line and newton being sacked well according to espn there are 14 qbs with the same or more sacks than cam of those 14 qbs 5 of them have lossing records. Whats the others excuse for winning then?
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