***TNF IN THE SWAMP - NO @ CAR***
***NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ CAROLINA PANTHERS***
The NFC South takes center stage tonight when the New Orleans Saints march into Carolina to take on the struggling Panthers. Both of these teams are currently clinging to their playoff hopes and in the dreaded "must-win" situations. With the Atlanta Falcons two games ahead with a 6-4 record, the 4-5 Saints and 3-6 Panthers have no room for error. That being said, it is the Panthers who are now having their feet held to the flames after blowing a 17-3 lead at home against Kansas City last week. The Panthers came out strong and played very well on both sides of the ball until collapsing and turning the ball over, allowing KC to put up 17 points in the fourth quarter alone. It was absolutely a game the Panthers should have won and gave away, destroying what could have been an extremely momentous 3 game winning streak since their bye week. I got to believe that loss has put Head Coach Ron Rivera and the Panthers on edge and now on a short week will host a rival Saints team who had no trouble scoring on them when they beat the Panthers at Nawleans in week 6. However the Panthers showed some resilience and battled back to make it a game and eventually lost by a Saints FG in the final seconds with a final score of 41-38. It seems like points come in bunches when these two get together. In their history they really light up the scoreboard, but tonight I think will have a different feel to it. Since their last battle and as the season went on in general, both of the Saints and Panthers defenses have gotten much better. The dreaded Rookie CBs who started out as Carolina's clear achilles heel, have gotten better each game. I am also pretty sure the last time they faced off, both of the Carolina starting CBs were out with injury. The Saints have also finally gotten a look at their Rookie DT Sheldon Rankins who has played well since coming back from an injury and seemed to have helped spark this defense. Last week against the Broncos, they recorded 6 sacks. This is a ton for a Saints defense and shows me that whatever changes they have made and schemes they have cooked up, is aligned with their personnel and has the boys amped up. I love how this defense is coming together and coupled with the usually high octane offense behind QB Drew Brees, the Saints seem to be alive once again.
As mentioned previously, the Panthers defense has also buckled down and started to play more like the team we all remember from last year's Super Bowl Run. Led by LBs Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis this unit will always be a threat and I think they will make things difficult for Brees to get comfortable on the road tonight. With their backs against the wall more than ever after last week's loss, I see them playing their best game here. However up against an offense as powerful as New Orleans, their best game will still most likely include Brees and his weapons having some success. QB Cam Newton will have to put the Carolina offense on his shoulders once again to stay with Brees and with the help of the defense, I think he will do enough to get it done. The vision in the Swamp is calling for a tight game throughout with whoever having the ball last as the victor. That all being said, I think this one ends opposite the first match and the Panthers kick a FG in the waining moments to get the win. Therefore, even though it is a close call, I think a dawgie finally covers on Prime Time without winning outright. Swampy got to eat the points here. SAINTS+3.5
