The New Orleans Saints (1-8) are set to face the Carolina Panthers () in a week 10 NFC South matchup.
Last week, the Saints struggled to do much of anything and lost on the road to the Los Angeles Rams 34-10. The Black and Gold only ran 40 plays and possessed the football for 16:07 (13th lowest amount of time possessed in NFL history) in the loss.
The Panthers have won four out of their previous five games and are 3-1 at home. Most recently, they beat the Green Bay Packers on the road 16-13.
Kickoff between New Orleans and Carolina from Bank of America Stadium is scheduled for noon on Sunday, November 9th.
POST TRADE DEADLINE
The Black and Gold were active on Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. New Orleans traded away wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and offensive lineman Trevor Penning. The two trades netted the Saints a fourth and fifth-round pick from Seattle in the upcoming draft and a sixth-round pick from the Chargers in 2027.
Shaheed was second on the team in catches (44), receiving yards (499), and touchdowns (2). Penning was the starting left guard who rotated across three different positions in his time in New Orleans.
These trades will lead to more opportunities for Devuagn Vele, a wide receiver whom the Saints traded for before the season began. His snaps and targets have been limited with too many established pass catchers on the outside. Dillon Radunz is also expected to replace Pennings at left guard, as he has been the most comfortable and consistent this season when his name has been called.
RESERVE OFFENSIVE LINE
This Saints offensive line has seen better days. To start the season, the starting five was rookie Kelvin Banks, Trevor Penning, Erik McCoy, Cesar Ruiz, and Taliese Fuaga.
As previously stated, Pennings is now with the Chargers, and Radunz will take over at left guard. McCoy has been on IR with a torn bicep for the last two weeks, with Luke Fortner taking over at the center position. Now, Fuaga will officially miss Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.
Three of the five starters are missing for different reasons, and Ruiz’s struggles continue. The former first-round pick out of Michigan’s overall blocking grade on PFF is 52.2, which puts him 59th among the 78 eligible guards across the league. That leaves the rook as the only somewhat stable force on an offensive line that is expected to block for a quarterback who is set to make his second career start.
RUNNING GAME WOES
New Orleans ranks near the bottom of the league in rushing yards per game, 27th with 89.6. In the last five games, the Black and Gold have rushed for 85 or more yards once, and that was in their 26-14 win over the New York Giants.
Those other four games have featured a Saints run game that has recorded rushing totals of 73, 44, 48, and 57. Alvin Kamara has also rushed for 31 or fewer yards in this five-game stretch, and rookie running back Devin Neal has six carries all season.
The majority of Carolina’s success offensively comes from its ground game. They rank fifth in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 139.8. Rico Dowlde is their leading rusher after multiple 200-yard performances this season. The captain, Chuba Hubbard, role fluctuates by the week and could find an increased amount of touches with Dowdle’s availability in question for Sunday’s game.
SERIES RECORD: Saints lead 32-29
Last 5 Meetings:
2024: Panthers 23 – Saints 22
2024: Saints 47 – Panthers 10
2023: Saints 28 – Panthers 6
2023: Saints 20 – Panthers 17
2023: Panthers 10 – Saints 7
STAT LEADERS:
Saints
Spencer Rattler: 174-256, 1,568 Yards, 8 TD, 5 INT
Alvin Kamara: 106 Carries, 377 Yards, 1 TD
Chris Olave: 55 Catches, 560 Yards, 3 TD
Carl Granderson: 4.5 Sacks
Demario Davis: 84 Tackles (41 Solo)
Kool-Aid McKinstry: 2 INT
Blake Grupe: 16-of-22 Field Goals, Long of 54, 12-of-12 PAT
Panthers
Bryce Young: 149-244, 1,390 Yards, 11 TD, 6 INT
Rico Dowdle: 131 Carries, 735 Yards, 4 TD
Tetairoa McMillan: 41 Catches, 558 Yards, 2 TD
Derrick Brown: 3 Sacks
Christian Rozeboom: 77 Tackles (39 Solo)
Jaycee Horn: 3 INT
Ryan Fitzgerald: 14-of-16 Field Goals, Long of 57, 14-of-17 PAT
INJURY REPORT
Saints
Taliese Fuaga, OT, Ankle, OUT
Alvin Kamara, RB, Ankle, QUESTIONABLE
Jack Stoll, TE, Ankle, QUESTIONABLE
Taysom Hill, QB, Knee, PROBABLE
Cam Jordan, DE, Ankle, PROBABLE
Barry Wesley, OT, Hip, QUESTIONABLE
Jonah Williams, DE, Shoulder, QUESTIONABLE
Bryan Bresee, DT, Back, QUESTIONABLE
Panthers
Rico Dowdle, RB, Quad, QUESTIONABLE
Chandler Zavara, OG, Elbow, OUT
Lathan Ransom, S, Illness, QUESTIONABLE
Damien Lewis, OG, Oblique, PROBABLE
Cade Mays, C, Ankle/Knee, PROBABLE
Princely Umanmielen, OLB, Ankle, PROBABLE
Brycen Tremayne, WR, Hip, QUESTIONABLE
Derrick Brown, DT, Elbow, QUESTIONABLE
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Hamstring, QUESTIONABLE