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Saints-Panthers Preview
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Things may be starting to look up for the New Orleans Saints following a six-game losing streak.
Not only are the Saints expected to get a jolt from the return of veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who has been out since Week 5, but they have a chance to get back on track against the NFL-worst Carolina Panthers (1-7) on Sunday.
While the Saints (2-6) certainly don’t resemble the world beaters they looked like in the season opener when they ran out to a 30-0 second-quarter lead and trounced the Panthers 47-10 at the Superdome, they seem to have Carolina's number.
The Saints are 3-0 against Panthers quarterback Bryce Young and have won the last two games by a combined 59 points.
Saints coach Dennis Allen said his team's dominant Week 1 win means nothing heading into this week.
“Zero,” Allen said. “That game was eight weeks ago. It matters what we do this week in practice. It matters what we do in the game.”
The Panthers haven't shown much improvement on either side of the ball under first-year head coach Dave Canales. Only three teams have surrendered more points through eight games in the Super Bowl era, and the offense remains near or at the bottom of the league in most statistical categories.
Carr, who completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards and threw first-half touchdown passes in the first matchup, will look to exploit Carolina's leaky secondary that has allowed 17 TD passes - tied for the most in the league.
But he is trying to avoid the temptation to take on an outsized role in an offense that is desperate to emerge from its recent rut.
“I am no savior,” Carr said. “I am here to be a great leader and to be a great teammate and do my job to the best of my ability. Do I feel confident in what I can do? Absolutely.”
The previously benched Young will make his second straight start with 37-year-old Andy Dalton still recovering from a sprained right thumb he sustained in a car crash last week.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft is 2-17 as an NFL starter and has more interceptions than touchdown passes during his brief, disappointing career. Although trade rumors continue to swirl around Young, the Panthers don't appear interested in moving on from him at this point.
“I’m excited for Bryce to have another opportunity to build on the things (and) continue to just grow and get that experience that is invaluable - to be on the field, to be calling the plays and doing it," Canales said.
Carr said pain wasn’t his big issue the past three weeks.
His strained oblique was simply too weak to allow him to maintain proper throwing mechanics. At first, the recipe for recovery was rest, meaning he couldn’t even pick up his kids, which he said was "probably the hardest part.”
“There was literally nothing that I could do but wait and let it heal,” Carr said.
During the past couple of weeks, he has gradually ramped up throwing in an effort to avoid a setback.
The Panthers traded No. 1 wide receiver Diontae Johnson to Baltimore earlier this week and will lean heavily on rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker moving forward. There's a chance that veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen will be back in the lineup this week after missing the last five games with a hamstring injury.
Legette said Young showed more trust in Coker and him last week against Denver by throwing the ball up and allowing them to make plays. Legette and Coker both caught TD passes in Carolina's 28-14 loss to the Broncos.
“I definitely trust (Xavier); I trust all of our receivers," Young said. “In this league, it’s a lot of bang-bang plays, a lot of tight windows and tough throws.”
Saints defensive back Alontae Taylor, who has spent much of the past two seasons transitioning from cornerback to nickel back, appears likely to return to defending the perimeter this week.
That’s partly because it’s not clear if cornerback Marshon Lattimore will be able to return from a nagging hamstring injury.
“I’m back at home, I guess you could say,” Taylor said. “But I’m really trying to figure out what can I do to maybe give us a better chance of winning games.
With cornerback Paulson Adebo out for the season because of a broken leg and Lattimore struggling with his injury, Taylor is now one of the more experienced and prominent defensive backs in the lineup.
“I think the best thing I can do is just continue to fly around,” Taylor said. “I have to make sure I give a better example to the younger guys and lead them in the best way possible.”
The Panthers have been cautious in bringing along rookie running back Jonathan Brooks, their second-round draft pick, as he recovers from a torn ACL sustained last year at Texas.
But there’s a possibility that Brooks could make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Saints.
Brooks would bring a home-run threat to the Panthers' backfield they are currently missing. Chuba Hubbard has been solid, reliable and arguably the team’s most productive player this season.
Yet Brooks offers an explosive style that could lead to some big plays.
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AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans contributed to this report.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
D. Carr
4 QB
84 FPTS
|
D. Carr | 90/128 | 989 | 8 | 4 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Rattler
18 QB
24 FPTS
|
S. Rattler | 59/99 | 571 | 1 | 2 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Haener
3 QB
13 FPTS
|
J. Haener | 14/29 | 177 | 1 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hill
7 TE
26 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 1/1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
A. Kamara
41 RB
157 FPTS
|
A. Kamara | 121 | 505 | 6 | 24 | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
21 RB
19 FPTS
|
J. Williams | 32 | 124 | 1 | 14 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hill
7 TE
26 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 18 | 97 | 2 | 12 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Rattler
18 QB
24 FPTS
|
S. Rattler | 9 | 61 | 0 | 28 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Miller
25 RB
6 FPTS
|
K. Miller | 9 | 52 | 0 | 16 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Shaheed
22 WR
71 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 6 | 29 | 0 | 13 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carr
4 QB
84 FPTS
|
D. Carr | 8 | 22 | 1 | 8 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Haener
3 QB
13 FPTS
|
J. Haener | 7 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mims
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
J. Mims | 5 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Olave
12 WR
71 FPTS
|
C. Olave | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 71 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Olave
12 WR
71 FPTS
|
C. Olave | 43 | 31 | 387 | 1 | 39 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Shaheed
22 WR
71 FPTS
|
R. Shaheed | 41 | 20 | 349 | 3 | 70 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Kamara
41 RB
157 FPTS
|
A. Kamara | 54 | 40 | 307 | 1 | 57 | 157 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
83 TE
39 FPTS
|
J. Johnson | 24 | 18 | 184 | 1 | 27 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Moreau
87 TE
36 FPTS
|
F. Moreau | 13 | 11 | 150 | 2 | 41 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Means
16 WR
25 FPTS
|
B. Means | 15 | 9 | 118 | 1 | 36 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Tipton
84 WR
21 FPTS
|
M. Tipton | 22 | 14 | 99 | 0 | 15 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wilson Jr.
11 WR
20 FPTS
|
C. Wilson Jr. | 11 | 9 | 88 | 1 | 25 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hill
7 TE
26 FPTS
|
T. Hill | 7 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 14 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Williams
21 RB
19 FPTS
|
J. Williams | 6 | 4 | 21 | 0 | 13 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mims
33 RB
4 FPTS
|
J. Mims | 4 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Miller
25 RB
6 FPTS
|
K. Miller | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Prentice
46 RB
0 FPTS
|
A. Prentice | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
P. Adebo
29 CB
|
P. Adebo | 43-9 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Taylor
1 CB
|
A. Taylor | 32-13 | 4.0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Davis
56 OLB
|
D. Davis | 27-24 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mathieu
32 FS
|
T. Mathieu | 26-7 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Lattimore
23 CB
|
M. Lattimore | 22-8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Werner
20 LB
|
P. Werner | 19-11 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Granderson
96 DE
|
C. Granderson | 18-12 | 3.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Howden
31 SAF
|
J. Howden | 14-16 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. McKinstry
34 CB
|
K. McKinstry | 13-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Harris
5 DB
|
W. Harris | 12-3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Young
99 DE
|
C. Young | 11-7 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Gay Jr.
6 LB
|
W. Gay Jr. | 10-3 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Bresee
90 DT
|
B. Bresee | 9-3 | 4.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Shepherd
93 DE
|
N. Shepherd | 9-10 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Orji
58 LB
|
A. Orji | 9-6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Saunders
50 DT
|
K. Saunders | 7-7 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
U. Amadi
0 SAF
|
U. Amadi | 5-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ridgeway
95 DT
|
J. Ridgeway | 4-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
52 LB
|
D. Jackson | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Turner
98 DE
|
P. Turner | 3-2 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jordan
94 DE
|
C. Jordan | 3-6 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Foskey
55 DE
|
I. Foskey | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Gray
48 DB
|
J. Gray | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Boyd
97 DT
|
K. Boyd | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Vickers
91 DE
|
K. Vickers | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hill
7 TE
|
T. Hill | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Grupe
19 K
61 FPTS
|
B. Grupe | 13/14 | 57 | 18/20 | 57 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
A. Dalton
14 QB
68 FPTS
|
A. Dalton | 106/160 | 989 | 7 | 6 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Young
9 QB
28 FPTS
|
B. Young | 61/102 | 523 | 2 | 5 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Hekker
10 P
|
J. Hekker | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
C. Hubbard
30 RB
111 FPTS
|
C. Hubbard | 118 | 593 | 3 | 38 | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sanders
6 RB
44 FPTS
|
M. Sanders | 34 | 139 | 1 | 26 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Dalton
14 QB
68 FPTS
|
A. Dalton | 11 | 34 | 0 | 18 | 68 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Young
9 QB
28 FPTS
|
B. Young | 9 | 32 | 1 | 8 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||
X. Legette
17 WR
59 FPTS
|
X. Legette | 4 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Boone
34 RB
0 FPTS
|
M. Boone | 4 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mingo
15 WR
20 FPTS
|
J. Mingo | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
X. Legette
17 WR
59 FPTS
|
X. Legette | 35 | 22 | 211 | 3 | 35 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Coker
18 WR
35 FPTS
|
J. Coker | 15 | 12 | 186 | 1 | 31 | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Sanders
85 TE
32 FPTS
|
J. Sanders | 25 | 20 | 158 | 0 | 29 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Mingo
15 WR
20 FPTS
|
J. Mingo | 25 | 12 | 121 | 0 | 35 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Thielen
19 WR
24 FPTS
|
A. Thielen | 12 | 8 | 109 | 1 | 32 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hubbard
30 RB
111 FPTS
|
C. Hubbard | 26 | 24 | 108 | 1 | 20 | 111 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sanders
6 RB
44 FPTS
|
M. Sanders | 24 | 19 | 103 | 0 | 27 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Moore
83 WR
15 FPTS
|
D. Moore | 14 | 9 | 83 | 0 | 14 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tremble
82 TE
12 FPTS
|
T. Tremble | 12 | 9 | 72 | 0 | 20 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Thomas
80 TE
2 FPTS
|
I. Thomas | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Franklin
42 SAF
0 FPTS
|
S. Franklin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
F. Franks
84 TE
0 FPTS
|
F. Franks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Matthews
81 TE
0 FPTS
|
J. Matthews | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
X. Woods
25 FS
|
X. Woods | 34-22 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jackson
28 CB
|
M. Jackson | 33-10 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Horn
8 CB
|
J. Horn | 27-7 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wallace
56 LB
|
T. Wallace | 24-13 | 0.0 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Jewell
47 ILB
|
J. Jewell | 23-17 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Green-Thompson
54 OLB
|
S. Green-Thompson | 19-16 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Robinson
94 DT
|
A. Robinson | 18-14 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Scott
21 SAF
|
N. Scott | 14-12 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Tuttle
99 DT
|
S. Tuttle | 11-12 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Ray
93 DE
|
L. Ray | 9-9 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson
52 LB
|
D. Johnson | 9-16 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Clowney
7 OLB
|
J. Clowney | 9-10 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Harris
53 LB
|
C. Harris | 8-5 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Fuller
20 SAF
|
J. Fuller | 8-7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Smith-Wade
26 CB
|
C. Smith-Wade | 7-7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Richardson
36 SAF
|
D. Richardson | 7-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Thurman
91 DE
|
N. Thurman | 5-8 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Incoom
48 LB
|
T. Incoom | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Cherelus
53 LB
|
C. Cherelus | 4-7 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wooten
57 LB
|
C. Wooten | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Williams
75 DE
|
D. Williams | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Jackson
23 CB
|
D. Jackson | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Farley
31 CB
|
C. Farley | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Robinson
22 SAF
|
J. Robinson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brown
95 DT
|
D. Brown | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Johnson
32 CB
|
L. Johnson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Smith
97 DT
|
T. Smith | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
E. Pineiro
4 K
40 FPTS
|
E. Pineiro | 9/10 | 48 | 13/13 | 40 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |