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Behind Enemy Lines - New Orleans

Zod

By Zod,
in Carolina Panthers

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Zod Grand Master

Zod

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Sunday night presents to us the biggest game the Carolina Panthers have played in nearly 5 years. If they Panthers can somehow pull out a victory against the Saints in New Orleans and the division title is the Panthers to lose. A loss in New Orleans would force the Panthers to require a little help from here on out from around the league.
 
Either way, Panthers fans once again are excited about a December game, and that is something worth celebrating in and of itself.
 
The Saints also know how important this game is.
 
From NOLA.com

"We know what's at stake," Drew Brees said. "... This game is the most important game of the season."

 
Drew Brees and the Saints are notorious for downplaying the significance of individual games. Not this week.
 
Saints coach Sean Payton agrees.
 

"It is playing an important game with regards to the division," Payton said. "It's a Sunday night game at home, those are things that you get excited about. I think at this point in the year playing in a division race like we are, I think both teams will be ready and excited.

 
_____________________________________________________________________
 
According to NOLA.com , Saints defense is struggling on third down....
 

But since holding Dallas to 0-for-9 on third down Nov. 10, that number has been creeping back up. The San Francisco 49ers converted 6-of-15 (40 percent) of their third downs, while the Atlanta Falcons were 6-of-12. The Seahawks were 7-of-14 on third down Monday, a season high for the Saints' defense. In contrast, Carolina allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to convert just 1-of-10 third downs last Sunday. "We've just got to execute," said Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro. "We haven't been getting off the field as much on third down."

 
Giving up 50% of third down conversions over the last month is nothing to write home about and has much to do with why the Saints are 4-3 in the last 7 games. Looks for heavy doses of Mike Tolbert on third downs to loosen up the Saints defense even more.
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
Drew Brees knows the Panthers Defense is top shelf...
 

"They're excellent," Brees said. "There's not a defense that's playing better than these guys. In every statistical category they're tops. Playing with a lot of confidence, they don't have a weak link."

 
Brees sees the game on Sunday night as an opportunity for vindication. He has a national platform to show the rest of the league the Saints are not the team that was whooped on Monday night, but rather a Superbowl contender. I expect to see the Saints come out throwing on Sunday night.
 
If the Panthers can keep it close in the first half, I like their chances. I am not sure they can keep up with New Orleans on their home turf if they go down by two scores. Mike Shula needs to have a solid game plan to move the ball efficiently from the first whistle. A few early punts could be the difference in the game.

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Pantherman Newbie

Pantherman

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If we keep it close in the first half?!?! Who said we would be down. We might be up by 2 scores going into half time. I just don't see us struggling to keep up with the Saints. It's going to be a battle. But struggling to keep up. I doubt that. We will burn these jokers on Sunday.

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Pantherman Newbie

Pantherman

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Shula better have a good game plan. 3 & outs will kill us quickly.

 

Honestly I ain't worried about the Saints right now. We are 2-0 this season beating teams coming off Monday night games.

 

Pros and Cons.

 

Pros- Saints have Brees Graham and the home crowd behind them in the dome.

Cons- They are coming off a Monday night game and they stayed an extra day up in Seattle because of the plane broke down. The will be extra tired in the process and having less time to prepare and coming off a lose.

 

Pros and Cons

 

Pros- Panthers coming off a blow out against the Bucs at home and we are on an 8 game streak right now. We have the game tape from Monday night game for our guys to study and see what the Seahawks did to keep Saints down. Plus we are rested up and getting back CJ and  a few other guys from injuries for this game.

 

Cons- Cams struggles at times with his passing and our running game has struggle the past few weeks or so. Aside from Tolbert. We are in the dome which will hurt them at times and that might cause them to make mistakes on both sides of the ball.

 

Overall it looks like we have the upper hand on a Saints team that is going to be tired very little to prepare for us and coming off of a lose. We have to take care of business against them. It will be a tough game. But this game should be ours with no problem.

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PanthersAlv Contributor

PanthersAlv

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If the Panthers come out this week like they did against the Dolphins, they will lose this game.

 

Agreed. Though, I don't think they will. knowing the stakes for this game.

 

Nerves for the young players may be an issue though. BIG game. but it's the Next game that's the biggest right? here's hope'n they stay the course and play ball!

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PantherGuy Community Regular

PantherGuy

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Honestly I ain't worried about the Saints right now. We are 2-0 this season beating teams coming off Monday night games.

 

Pros and Cons.

 

Pros- Saints have Brees Graham and the home crowd behind them in the dome.

Cons- They are coming off a Monday night game and they stayed an extra day up in Seattle because of the plane broke down. The will be extra tired in the process and having less time to prepare and coming off a lose.

 

Pros and Cons

 

Pros- Panthers coming off a blow out against the Bucs at home and we are on an 8 game streak right now. We have the game tape from Monday night game for our guys to study and see what the Seahawks did to keep Saints down. Plus we are rested up and getting back CJ and  a few other guys from injuries for this game.

 

Cons- Cams struggles at times with his passing and our running game has struggle the past few weeks or so. Aside from Tolbert. We are in the dome which will hurt them at times and that might cause them to make mistakes on both sides of the ball.

 

Overall it looks like we have the upper hand on a Saints team that is going to be tired very little to prepare for us and coming off of a lose. We have to take care of business against them. It will be a tough game. But this game should be ours with no problem.

 

I think we can/will win this game, but you're underestimating the Saints.

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DecrypticShadow Newbie

DecrypticShadow

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I think some of you are forgetting how extremely difficult it is to sweep even an average divisional opponent.

The Saints are a good team. Sweeping them will be a HUGE accomplishment.

I believe any logical fan, especially of this organization understands that. With a sweep of Nawlins, it will indeed be HUGE, why? Because it gives us the #2 seed and a 1st round bye.

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