After the Saints defense’s disastrous showing against Sam Bradford on Monday Night Football in Week 1, it came as no surprise to see them make Tom Brady look unstoppable in the Pats’ 36-20 win in New Orleans.
The Saints D has now coughed up an amazing 893 passing yards on 80 percent completion with six touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks through the first two weeks.
To make matters worse, Drew Brees and the Saints offense haven’t really clicked thus far. The Adrian Peterson move hasn’t paid dividends, and it remains to be seen what his role in the offense really is. They’re averaging less than 20 points per game, which nowhere near enough to make up for their defense’s poor play.
If there’s a bright side for the Saints, it’s that they’ll next face Cam Newton, who has struggled throwing the ball after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder this offseason. With Newton far from his best, the Saints should have a somewhat better chance of avoiding getting burned through the air.
The Saints have been appalling in September for some time now. They are now just 1-11 in their last 12 games during the month, the worst in the NFL in that span.
The Panthers have their defense to thank for their perfect 2-0 start. The Carolina D has been sensational, as it has allowed just a field goal in each of its first two games against the 49ers and the Bills.
Granted, neither of those offenses is particularly impressive, but holding opponents to just three points in back-to-back games in the NFL is an impressive feat regardless of who it’s against.
The Panthers defense’s strong showing has allowed the offense’s issues to fly under the radar. Cam Newton has not looked at his best through the first two games, and the six sacks he took against the Bills didn’t help. He also lost favorite target Greg Olson with a broken foot.
Even the running game has been unable to get going, with the team averaging a mere three yards per carry through two games.
If there’s a defense that can finally get Carolina’s struggling attack going, though, it’s the Saints’. The Panthers have put up at least 38 points in each of their last three home games against New Orleans. And with the Carolina defense playing as well as it has been, there’s a good chance they continue to keep the Saints’ sputtering offense quiet.
Writer’s Prediction
The Panthers (-240) edge out the Saints at home, 24-21.
