Saints desperate entering rematch with Panthers
NEW ORLEANS – The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers are preparing for their second matchup this season under circumstances that have changed substantially since the last time they met.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr was relatively healthy for their Week 2 clash in Carolina and still in his honeymoon period with the same New Orleans fans who booed him repeatedly in the Superdome last weekend. He was also knocked out of a game for the third time in his first season in New Orleans.
The Panthers began the season under coach Frank Reich, who was “encouraged” by rookie QB Bryce Young’s response to his first taste of adversity in the NFL.
Carolina has since fired Reich and is preparing for its second game under interim coach Chris Tabor when the Panthers (1-11) visit the Saints (5-7) on Sunday.
New Orleans, meanwhile, is in the midst of a season-high three-game skid and in danger of seeing its season slip away. When the Saints beat the Panthers on a Monday night in September, they were 2-0 and looked like the favorite in the anemic NFC South. They’ve gone 3-7 since and have fallen a game behind Atlanta (6-6) for the division lead.
“We need a win. There’s no question about that,” said Saints second-year coach Dennis Allen, who also has been the object of heavy criticism in New Orleans. “We’re going to work extremely hard to get it figured out. … We’re going to keep chopping wood and eventually we’re going to bust through.”
For the Panthers, Tabor said, knowing they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention is “extremely hard.”
But he added, “you have two choices: character or compromise.”
“When I lay my head down at night, I like to think I know who I am,” Tabor added. “Did I do an honest day’s work? I think that is how you have to look at it. I don’t think about the record – that is way past. I’m just thinking about what are we doing to set ourselves up to win.”
The Saints spent much of this week unsure whether Carr or backup Jameis Winston would be their starting QB on Sunday. Carr, who last Sunday has his second concussions in the span of 22 days, was permitted to practice on a limited basis this week, but remained in the concussion protocol as the weekend neared.
The only uncertainty at QB for the Panthers was when their top draft choice might have his first true breakout game. Young has yet to throw for as many as 250 yards in a game and has thrown as many interceptions as touchdown passes with nine each.
“At any given moment, Bryce Young could have that spark, so I don’t think we’re necessarily looking at the record,” Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu said. “We’re just looking at it like, ’Man, we’ve got to beat these guys.’”