Panthers Saints Score Prediction – The Panthers Finally Get A Win?
The Carolina Panthers look to kickstart their 2022 season and end their nine-game losing streak as they face the New Orleans Saints in a pivotal divisional matchup.
The Panthers are dangerously close to rock bottom, a 10-25 record under third-year Head Coach Matt Rhule and after starting the season 0-2 calls for Rhule to be relieved of his duties are growing ever louder, and with college jobs becoming available it’s a wonder how long the former Baylor man will last in the NFL if things continue.
The Panthers face arguably their toughest test yet in the form of the New Orleans Saints, despite a 20-10 loss at the hands of reigning NFC South winners the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the Saints have the talent at all levels to make a run at the postseason. Their defense looks top level once again only improved with the additions of Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu, couple that with star RB Alvin Kamara and a stud WR trio of Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Chris Olave. If Quarterback Jameis Winston can manage the team the Saints could be a force in the NFC.
Things for the Panthers look less promising, Carolina is on a nine-game losing streak, and under Matt Rhule are 1-25 when opponents score more than 17 points frankly embarrassing statistics which only heaps more pressure on Rhule. As the Panthers now head into three straight home games the pressure is seriously on as if Rhule doesn’t start winning soon he may soon be looking for a new job.
Panthers/Saints Injury Update
The Panthers head into this encounter with a relatively short injury list. Cornerbacks Donte Jackson and Stantley Thomas Oliver are both questionable with hamstring and Achilles injuries respectively, Rhule said he expects Thomas Oliver the special teams ace to play. Regarding Jackson the former LSU man is expected to be a game-time decision, the Panthers did get some good news as star RB Christian McCaffrey enters the game with no injury designation after he popped up on the report Thursday.
For the visiting New Orleans Saints, they have a long injury report heading into this divisional matchup, the Saints have one player rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor who is out with a knee injury. The Saints also have six players listed as questionable including four key starters as QB Jameis Winston (Back/Ankle), Tackle Ryan Ramcyzk (Elbow) RB Alvin Kamara (Rib), and Safety Marcus Maye (Rib) will all be game-time decisions.
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Final Prediction
If the Saints find themselves without any of the names mentioned above the Panthers will look to take advantage and get what is a much-needed win for Matt Rhule and his team. In order to win this game, the Panthers must play complementary football, something which they haven’t done yet throughout the season. On the offensive side of the ball, the Panthers need to see more from QB Baker Mayfield who has struggled through two weeks, it’s also vital the Panthers get the ball as often as possible to their playmakers, namely DJ Moore and Christian McCaffrey.
While on the defensive side of the ball, this will be the biggest test so far of the season for a Panthers defense that showed vast improvement a week ago. The Panthers face an offense that has the ability to beat you on the ground with a stud RB, or through the air with the aforementioned WR trio. The Panthers win this game by harrying QB Jameis Winston if he is healthy, something they did in week 2 of the 2021 season when they picked Winston off twice in a 26-7 win.
The Panthers need to win this, with the fact it’s a divisional matchup making it even more important. We’ve heard throughout the week that Panthers’ players are behind their head coach, and I’m going to be confident today and say the Panthers manage to pull out a first win of the season thanks to the boot of kicker Eddy Pineiro.Carolina Panthers 20-17 New Orleans Saints