Panther Get Another Shot To Take NFC South

Admittedly, I may have prematurely declared that the NFC South belongs to the New Orleans Saints, but after the decisive victory the Saints had over the Carolina Panthers (31-13) I thought it was a safe assumption.

I made that declaration before the Panthers proved they weren’t going to let a loss to the Saints slow them down.  Before facing the Saints, the Panthers were on a roll. They had won eight games in a row. After the speed bump they hit in New Orleans I assumed they would slow down. However, they proved they were not going to allow their momentum to be stifled. They went on to their next game to defeat the New York Jets 30-20.

The Saints, on the other hand, went on to go get upset by the St. Louis Rams, making it clear that New Orleans is a team that does not play well on the road. All four of their losses this season have come on the road. During their other road games this season they have struggled. The Saints even had trouble dispatching the Tampa Bay Bucs on the road back in Week 2, barely edging them out 16-14.

In the Saints and the Panthers last meeting a couple weeks ago a lot of things made that a favorable game for the Saints. For one, the Saints were playing in New Orleans, which is always a plus considering they have scored over 30 points in every game they have played in the Bayou except for one.

Also, the Saints were playing in prime time. Brees has a history of always performing very well when the world is watching, and he had an exceptional game that evening. Not that Brees does not often have exceptional games, but this was particularly exceptional. Brees passed for 313 yards and had four touchdowns. Seven of his completions were for 18 yards or longer. He did not toss a single interception. Brees has only had two better games this season that the one he played against the Panthers.

Can Brees come out on the Panthers home turf and do it again?  Absolutely.

However, the Panthers will be working on an answer for the Brees riddle all week and with experience playing against him, and the Panther defense looking more balanced against the Jets, Brees may not have as good of a day.

The point is that the Panthers have a chance to beat the Saints and take control of the NFC South and, barring any upset victories in Week 17, the winner of this game will remain in control of the NFC South at the end of the season.