***SWAMP WILD CARD WEEKEND - GM 3 - CAR/NO***
***CAROLINA PANTHERS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS***
Really pressed for time here, so will keep this one short and to the point. These two Division rivals have already faced off twice this season. The Saints whooped the Panthers behinds in both previous match-ups by final scores of 34-13 and 31-21. We all know the old wives tale that it is hard to beat a team three consecutive times in a single season, in any sport. However, it has been done and I do think the Saints come out on top here, but it won't be easy as I expect this to be way closer than the two previous face-offs and see a FG game either way. The Panthers have the veterans on defense to make the necessary adjustments and the most important thing here is that these teams KNOW each other. In the same Division, a lot of these players have been going at it for years now and I like Head Coach Ron Rivera to scheme up some ways to stifle the dominant New Orleans rushing attack with the dynamic duo of the sensational Rookie RB Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. The certainly have the LBs to do so with Luke Kuechly, Thomas Davis, and Shaq Thomson and I know they'll be locked in to do so. On the other side of things we got Cam Newton who has played much better this season and I've really noticed an uptick in his passing game, especially since trading away the slower and bigger WR Kelvin Benjamin and utilizing a much quicker and smaller WR core. The Saints defense has been awesome, especially at home. I absolutely love Rookie CB Marshone Lattimore and think he is the best shutdown CB I've seen in some time. The kid is an absolute stud. DE Cameron Jordan has really ramped things up this season and with guys like LB Manti Teo finding a nice fit in this defense they've really come together as a strong unit. I believe this will be a hard fought battle that is close throughout. Cam Newton is at his best when running the football often and in a game where the Panthers need to keep the Saints off the field and so much on the line I believe Cam will step up and won't hesitate to pick up first downs with his legs. I also have a sneaky suspicion that Panthers Rookie RB Christian McCaffrey to have his best game tonight on the big stage, and again I believe the third time around will be the closest battle between these two rivals, and that it will be decided by a FG or two either way. Ok your boy is hosting at the moment, so I gotta go Swamp Nation! My apologies for the basic and short post, or maybe after some long winded ones this one did just fine. Enjoy the last game and see you back here next week my friends. PANTHERS+6.5
