Panthers in Precarious Situation Against Saints

Drew Brees NFL 2008 Week 17 New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees on Pace to Set Single Season Passing Record

Even though the New Orleans Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention, their impact on the NFC South can be significant when the Saints host the Carolina Panthers.

Despite losing to the New York Giants last week in overtime, the Panthers secured a playoff berth thanks to losses by the Dallas Cowboys Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a win or tie, the Panthers clinch the NFC South and the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. A loss combined with an Atlanta Falcons win would relegate the Panthers to the NFC's 5th seed.

The Saints are coming off a 42-7 victory over Detroit and bring the NFL's top rated offense into the game against a Panthers defense that allowed 459 yards against the Giants. The Saints are also 6-1 at the Superdome this season, whereas the Panthers are 3-4 on the road.

Carolina Panthers (11-4) at New Orleans Saints (8-7) - Sunday, FOX 1:00PM ET

The Panthers rank 12th overall in total offense. However, the Saints are averaging 410.3 yards per game. The Panthers held New Orleans to a season-low seven points when the two teams played October 19, but New Orleans has been rolling up yards and points since then.

The Panthers pass rush has been largely ineffective against New Orleans, but the Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers has 13.5 sacks this season, a single season personal best.

Last week it was the Panthers rushing defense that proved ineffective, while the Saints running game has improved over the past few weeks.

"We are facing a great challenge in a hostile environment," says head coach John Fox. "I cannot ask for a greater effort than we gave last week, but we will have to execute better against a very good Saints team."

Series: Panthers 15-12 Advantage

This Sunday's game marks the 28th meeting between the Panthers and Saints. The Panthers have a 15-12 advantage in the series.

In the 27 previous games between these NFC South division rivals, 13 have been decided by eight points or less, including seven of the 12 games played in New Orleans. The Panthers hold a 7-5 advantage in games played in New Orleans. The New Orleans Saints will be seeking their first home win against the Panthers since 2001.

Earlier this season (October 19, 2008), the Panthers defeated the Saints at home by a 30-7 score.

In that game, the Panthers converted two Saints turnovers into touchdowns. The New Orleans Saints built a 7-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

However, Julius Peppers jarred the ball loose from tight end Jeremy Shockey and Chris Harris recovered the fumble. Four plays later, running back Jonathan Stewart ran 18 yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 lead. A lead the Panthers would not relinquish as the Panthers scored 27 unanswered points.

On the Panthers first drive of the third quarter, quarterback Jake Delhomme connected with wide receiver Steve Smith for a 39-yard touchdown pass, to extend the Panthers lead to 20-7.

Delhomme threw his second touchdown pass of the game with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter when he found running back DeAngelo Williams from four yards out.

On offense, Jonathon Stewart finished the game with 68 rushing yards and one touchdown on 17 attempts. Jake Delhomme was 14-of-22 for 195 yards with two touchdowns for a quarterback rating of 122.3. Steve Smith had 122 receiving yards and one score on six receptions.

On offense, Julius Peppers finished the game with four tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one pass defensed. Cornerback Ken Lucas notched his second interception of the season while linebacker Thomas Davis led the Panthers with nine tackles.

Last season in New Orleans (10/7/2007), the Panthers defeated the Saints 16-13. Carolina QB David Carr connected with WR Steve Smith for the game-tying 17-yard touchdown in the 4th quarter. John Kasay kicked a 52-yard FG for the 16-13 vicotry as time expired.

NFL 2008 Week 16: New York Giants 34, Carolina Panthers 28 (OT)

Despite DeAngelo Williams 4 touchdowns and solid efforts from Jake Delhomme, Steve Smith and Jonathon Stewart on offense, the Panthers defense surrendered 459 yards against the Giants.

With the NFC number 1 seed on the line, the Giants overcame an 11-point deficit in the second quarter and an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers in overtime. Brandon Jacobs scored his third touchdown of the game for the win, a two-yard run 5 minutes and 3 seconds into the overtime.

The Giants rushed for 301 yards. Derrick Ward ran for 215 yards on 15 carries (14.3-yard average). Brandon Jacobs added 87 yards rushing along with the 3 TDs after sitting out last week's Cowboys game with an injury. Eli Manning was 17-of-27 for 181 yards and 1 touchdown pass.

For the Panthers, DeAngelo Williams scored all four Carolina touchdowns (13-yards, 5-yards, 1-yard and 30-yards). Jake Delhomme completed 11-of-19 for 185 yards.

NFL 2008 Week 16: New Orleans Saints 42, Detroit Lions 7

The New Orleans Saints scored touchdowns on their six offensive possessions and tallied 532 yards of total offense and compiiled 32 first downs in their 42-7 victory in Detroit.

The Saints defense allowed the Lions only 255 net yards.

In the game, the Saints offense scored immediately after WR Skyler Green returned the opening kickoff 60 yards. Four different Saints scored rushing touchdowns in the first half as the Saints took a 28-7 lead in the first half.

In the second half, QB Drew Brees connected on two touchdown passes to WR Marques Colston (99 yards). Brees completed 30 of 40 passes for 351 yards with two TD passes and a 117.8 passer rating, raising his season pass yardage total to 4,683 yards, the 11th highest total in NFL history. Drew Brees needs 402 yards passing in the season finale against the Panthers to break the NFL single season passing yardage record of 5,084 yards held by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino.

Carolina Panthers (11-4)

  • - QB JAKE DELHOMME has won 7 of 9 starts vs. the New Orleans Saints. Aims for 3rd in row vs. the New Orleans Saints with 120.0+ passer rating. As starter, when Delhomme has 110.0+ rating, team is 15-0
  • - RB DE ANGELO WILLIAMS has rush TD in team-record 8 games in row, including 4 touchdowns last week. Has franchise-record 20 touchdowns (18 rush). Has rushed for 923 yards (115.4 per game) & 16 touchdowns in past 8. Club is 13-2 (.867) when he rushes for 80+ yards. RB JONATHAN STEWART has 9 rush touchdowns & ties for 2nd among rookies. Had 18-yard TD run in last meeting
  • - WR Smith has 33 catches for 602 yards (120.4 per game) in past 5. Had 6 catches for 122 yards (20.3 avg.) & TD in last meeting. Has 8 touchdowns (7 rec., 1 rush) in past 7 meetings. Offense leads NFC with 66.7 TD pct. in red zone (30 touchdowns, 45 poss.)
  • - DE Peppers is 1st in team history with 69.5 sacks & 25 forced fumbles. Has 13.5 sacks in past 13. Has sack in 5 of past 7 (9.5 sacks)

New Orleans Saints (8-7)

  • - The Saints lead NFL in total offense (410.3 yards per game) this season.
  • - The Saints are 6-1 at home this season
  • - Since joining the Saints in 2006, Pro Bowl QB DREW BREES has passed for 13,524 yards, most in NFL. This season, Drew Brees leads the NFL with career-high 4,683 passing yards & has 9 300-yard games. Brees needs 1 300-yard game to tie the single-season record of 10 set by Rich Gannon in 2002. Drew Brees has 117.2 passer rating with 19 touchdowns vs. 4 interceptions at home. In 7 home games, Brees has passed for 300+ yards 6 times
  • - RB PIERRE THOMAS aims for 7th in row with TD. Has 9 touchdowns in past 6 (6 rush, 3 rec.). In past 6, Thomas has 677 scrimmage yards (112.8 per game)
  • - WR MARQUES COLSTON had 1st 100-yard game (132 yards) vs. the Panthers (10/1/06) & had career-long 86-yard TD. Had 9 catches for 99 yards & 2 touchdowns last week. WR LANCE MOORE has 6 touchdowns in past 8. Has career-high 71 catches, 837 yards & 8 touchdowns
  • - DE WILL SMITH had sack in last home game vs. th Panthers. CB JASON DAVID has 4 interceptions in past 5. Rookie DT SEDRICK ELLIS has 3.0 sacks in past 5. S ROMAN HARPER had INT & FF in 11/25/07 meeting.

PREDICTION: New Orleans Saints 34, Carolina Panthers 20

Facing the number one scoring unit in the NFL will put tremendous pressure on the Panthers defense. In 2008, the Saints rank first in the NFL in points scored (432) and in points per game (28.8) ahead of the New York Giants.

For the Panthers to win their offense will need to be productive. The Panthers have scored at least 28 points in six consecutive games on the strength of Steve Smith and the running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

Despite the Panthers 16-13 victory in New Orleans last season, home-field will be an advantage fot the Saints.

At home the Panthers finished a perfect 8-0 this season. On the road, however, the Panthers are less than spectacular 3-4 as they have not beaten a good team on the road this season. For the Saints this season, the same story holds true. The Saints are 6-1 at home and 2-6 on the road.

For the Panthers, this game in New Orleans makes-or-breaks their season. Yes, it's odd that an 11-4 team already in the playoffs faces a must-win situation. But, for the Panthers it is. If the Panthers lose while the Falcons win, then Carolina winds up with the 5 seed playing next and playing on the road. Granted, the wildcard game will come against the Cardinals. However, the Panthers will find themselves on the road again the following week against the Giants or the Falcons.

Expect the Panthers to be ready and play well through the first half, perhaps even leading. But in the end, the Saints offense will wear down the Panthers defense plus Carolina's offense will not be able to keep pace.

Panthers in Precarious Situation Against Saints - NFL 2008 week 17