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The Saints are struggling, as they have started the season with back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots. The defense has once again been the problem, and it needs to tighten up. New Orleans has been to great heights in the Drew Brees era but is staring at another under .500 season if things don’t turn around quickly.
Watch this regular season Week 3 matchup live on Sunday, September 24, 2017, at 1 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium.
Odds Analysis
The spread has yet to be released, but it seems likely that the Panthers will be solid favorites. The scoring total is interesting. New Orleans scores a lot of points and also gives up a ton, but the Panthers’ defense has been great in the earlygoing while its offense has sputtered.
Check back later to see how big of a favorite Carolina is in this one, as well as where the oddsmakers peg the scoring total.
Injury Report
Greg Olsen – The Panthers veteran tight end broke his right foot in the first half of Carolina’s game against Buffalo on Sunday and will miss significant time. Olsen is set to see a doctor this week, but the injury is a big blow to the Panthers offense. Olsen is his eleventh season in the NFL and seventh with the Saints. He has accumulated 1,000 yards or more receiving the last three years in a row.
Trey Hendrickson – The Saints defensive end injured his left leg in the first quarter of his team’s game against the Patriots this week. He was initially declared questionable, but did not return to the game. Hendrickson is in his first season with the Saints. He was drafted in the third round by the Saints last spring.
Willie Snead -- The Saints receiver isn’t injured but will be suspended for this game due to a drunken driving arrest in the offseason. It will be the final game of his suspension as New Orleans must look for other to step up.
Matchup To Watch
Panthers’ defense vs. Saints’ offense -- Even though Brees is nearing 40 years old he remains one of the most prolific quarterbacks in the NFL. New Orleans shipped star receiver Brandin Cooks to the Patriots this offseason and is only averaging 19.5 points per game through two contests, but the passing game hasn’t been the problem.
Brees threw for 291 yards in the team’s opener against Minnesota and then 356 last time out against the Patriots. He has three touchdowns and no interceptions on the year. The Panthers had some secondary issues last season after letting Josh Norman leave, but the team has been dominant defensively this year.
They haven’t played great offenses but held both the 49ers and Bills to three points apiece. This will be a much stiffer test and it will be interesting to see how the Panthers hold up against Brees.
Free ATS Pick
New Orleans should keep this one close as the aerial attack will succeed against the Panthers. However, the Saints’ defense is just too poor. Cam Newton should have a strong game to help Carolina take care of business.
This one will be a shootout despite Carolina’s strong defensive play early in the season. If the spread gets much higher than a field goal, New Orleans should cover. The “over” will likely be the right call, but check in on the scoring total when it is released.
NFL Odds: Panthers 28, Saints 24
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