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NEW ORLEANS
CAROLINA |
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Final
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| 301 | NEW ORLEANS | -1.5 | -3 | | 302 | CAROLINA | 49 | 49.5 |
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| All Games | 3-4 | -3 | 3-4 | 6-1 | 28.4 | 11.7 | 445.3 | (6.5) | 1.9 | 26.9 | 12.1 | 390.4 | (6.3) | 1.0 | | Road Games | 0-4 | -6 | 1-3 | 4-0 | 24.5 | 10.0 | 428.7 | (6.6) | 2.2 | 31.2 | 13.2 | 420.2 | (6.3) | 0.7 | | Last 3 Games | 2-1 | +1 | 2-1 | 3-0 | 34.7 | 13.0 | 471.3 | (6.6) | 2.0 | 26.0 | 9.7 | 383.0 | (6.5) | 2.0 | | Grass Games | 0-1 | -2 | 0-1 | 1-0 | 24.0 | 10.0 | 397.0 | (5.9) | 2.0 | 26.0 | 16.0 | 324.0 | (4.6) | 0.0 | | Division Games | 1-1 | -0.5 | 0-2 | 2-0 | 35.5 | 16.5 | 491.5 | (6.3) | 2.5 | 34.0 | 10.0 | 441.0 | (7.3) | 1.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 28.4 | 11.7 | 27.1 | 31:17 | 26-133 | (5.1) | 29-42 | 69.5% | 312 | (7.4) | 68-445 | (6.5) | (15.7) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 23.3 | 11.8 | 21 | 31:42 | 28-121 | (4.3) | 22-35 | 64.4% | 244 | (7) | 63-365 | (5.8) | (15.7) | | Offense Road Games | 24.5 | 10.0 | 25.2 | 28:48 | 22-122 | (5.5) | 29-43 | 67.8% | 306 | (7.2) | 65-429 | (6.6) | (17.5) | | Defense (All Games) | 26.9 | 12.1 | 21.7 | 29:46 | 25-101 | (4) | 24-36 | 66.3% | 289 | (7.9) | 62-390 | (6.3) | (14.5) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 22.6 | 10.3 | 19.9 | 30:42 | 26-109 | (4.2) | 21-34 | 62.3% | 237 | (7) | 60-346 | (5.7) | (15.3) | | Defense Road Games | 31.2 | 13.2 | 24.0 | 31:38 | 28-123 | (4.3) | 26-38 | 68.0% | 297 | (7.8) | 67-420 | (6.3) | (13.4) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.9 | -0.9 | 12-6 | 51.2% | 1-0 | 40.0% | 1-26 | (23.1) | 1-5 | (5.8) | 5-48 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 13-5 | 41.7% | 1-0 | 56.2% | 2-39 | (22.9) | 18-2 | (8.4) | 7-58 | | Stats For (Road Games) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | -1.5 | 12-5 | 45.8% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 1-24 | (24.2) | 1-8 | (8) | 6-55 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | | 12-5 | 43.7% | 1-0 | 75.0% | 2-47 | (25.4) | 1-4 | (3.6) | 8-70 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.4 | | 13-5 | 40.3% | 1-0 | 39.4% | 2-48 | (23.2) | 16-2 | (8.7) | 7-55 | | Stats Against (Road Games) | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | | 14-7 | 50.0% | 0-0 | 100.0% | 1-34 | (22.5) | 0-1 | (1.5) | 7-62 |
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| All Games | 3-4 | -0.9 | 5-3 | 5-3 | 20.9 | 7.4 | 332.5 | (5.4) | 1.2 | 26.0 | 12.4 | 378.5 | (6.2) | 1.7 | | Home Games | 2-2 | -0.5 | 3-1 | 2-2 | 20.7 | 7.2 | 312.2 | (5.6) | 1.7 | 20.2 | 8.2 | 358.5 | (5.8) | 2.2 | | Last 3 Games | 0-2 | -2 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 21.0 | 6.3 | 342.7 | (5.2) | 1.3 | 29.3 | 16.0 | 395.3 | (6.4) | 1.3 | | Grass Games | 3-3 | +0.1 | 4-2 | 3-3 | 20.0 | 7.0 | 319.0 | (5.4) | 1.3 | 22.2 | 10.2 | 343.5 | (5.9) | 2.0 | | Division Games | 1-0 | +1.6 | 1-0 | 0-1 | 20.0 | 10.0 | 334.0 | (5) | 0.0 | 14.0 | 0.0 | 264.0 | (5.1) | 3.0 |
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| Offense (All Games) | 20.9 | 7.4 | 21.2 | 30:54 | 26-93 | (3.5) | 22-36 | 62.1% | 240 | (6.7) | 62-332 | (5.4) | (15.9) | | Opponents Defensive Avg. | 23.1 | 11.1 | 21.4 | 30:29 | 27-111 | (4.1) | 23-36 | 63.8% | 248 | (6.9) | 63-359 | (5.7) | (15.5) | | Offense Home Games | 20.7 | 7.2 | 19.7 | 28:10 | 23-77 | (3.3) | 20-33 | 62.1% | 235 | (7.1) | 56-312 | (5.6) | (15) | | Defense (All Games) | 26.0 | 12.4 | 21.7 | 30:59 | 26-135 | (5.2) | 24-35 | 69.2% | 243 | (7) | 61-378 | (6.2) | (14.6) | | Opponents Offensive Avg. | 23.7 | 11.5 | 20.5 | 30:04 | 26-110 | (4.2) | 22-35 | 64.5% | 243 | (7) | 60-353 | (5.8) | (14.9) | | Defense Home Games | 20.2 | 8.2 | 20.2 | 31:50 | 25-134 | (5.4) | 24-36 | 66.4% | 224 | (6.1) | 61-358 | (5.8) | (17.7) |
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| Stats For (All Games) | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 13-5 | 40.0% | 1-1 | 71.4% | 2-46 | (24.8) | 2-22 | (11.7) | 6-55 | | Opponents Avg. Stats Against | 0.9 | 0.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 13-5 | 41.3% | 1-0 | 53.0% | 2-50 | (23.1) | 16-2 | (9.1) | 7-59 | | Stats For (Home Games) | 0.5 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 11-3 | 30.4% | 1-0 | 66.7% | 1-40 | (26.7) | 2-25 | (14.1) | 4-50 | | Stats Against (All Games) | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.7 | | 13-6 | 47.1% | 0-0 | 50.0% | 1-42 | (33.8) | 2-26 | (13.2) | 7-56 | | Opponents Avg. Stats For | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.4 | | 13-5 | 40.6% | 1-0 | 47.8% | 2-49 | (23.2) | 17-2 | (9.3) | 7-56 | | Stats Against (Home Games) | 1.0 | 1.2 | 2.2 | | 12-4 | 36.0% | 1-0 | 50.0% | 1-38 | (30.2) | 2-25 | (12.4) | 8-61 |
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| | Average power rating of opponents played: NEW ORLEANS 18.1, CAROLINA 21.2 |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ ATLANTA | 34-37 | L | -3 | L | 51 | O | 28-139 | 29-42-333 | 2 | 25-123 | 31-43-445 | 1 | | 9/14/2014 | @ CLEVELAND | 24-26 | L | -5 | L | 49 | O | 27-174 | 27-40-223 | 2 | 30-122 | 24-41-202 | 0 | | 9/21/2014 | MINNESOTA | 20-9 | W | -9.5 | W | 49.5 | U | 32-108 | 27-35-288 | 0 | 22-59 | 17-30-188 | 0 | | 9/28/2014 | @ DALLAS | 17-38 | L | -3 | L | 53.5 | O | 13-104 | 32-44-334 | 3 | 35-190 | 22-29-255 | 0 | | 10/5/2014 | TAMPA BAY | 37-31 | W | -11 | L | 47 | O | 29-140 | 35-57-371 | 3 | 21-66 | 19-32-248 | 1 | | 10/19/2014 | @ DETROIT | 23-24 | L | 2 | W | 46 | O | 21-73 | 28-45-335 | 2 | 24-59 | 27-40-285 | 2 | | 10/26/2014 | GREEN BAY | 44-23 | W | -2 | W | 55 | O | 31-193 | 27-32-302 | 1 | 19-89 | 29-40-402 | 3 | | 10/30/2014 | @ CAROLINA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/9/2014 | SAN FRANCISCO | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/16/2014 | CINCINNATI | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/24/2014 | BALTIMORE | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| 9/7/2014 | @ TAMPA BAY | 20-14 | W | 4.5 | W | 39 | U | 33-113 | 24-34-221 | 0 | 17-102 | 22-35-162 | 3 | | 9/14/2014 | DETROIT | 24-7 | W | -1.5 | W | 43 | U | 24-62 | 22-34-251 | 0 | 18-70 | 27-48-253 | 3 | | 9/21/2014 | PITTSBURGH | 19-37 | L | -3 | L | 43 | O | 10-42 | 29-41-307 | 2 | 34-264 | 22-30-190 | 0 | | 9/28/2014 | @ BALTIMORE | 10-38 | L | 3 | L | 42.5 | O | 26-67 | 20-34-248 | 1 | 30-127 | 22-31-327 | 0 | | 10/5/2014 | CHICAGO | 31-24 | W | -1.5 | W | 47 | O | 27-90 | 19-35-231 | 3 | 22-85 | 28-36-262 | 4 | | 10/12/2014 | @ CINCINNATI | 37-37 | T | 7 | W | 44 | O | 34-147 | 29-46-284 | 1 | 31-193 | 33-43-320 | 2 | | 10/19/2014 | @ GREEN BAY | 17-38 | L | 6.5 | L | 48.5 | O | 25-108 | 22-39-223 | 1 | 30-122 | 19-24-241 | 0 | | 10/26/2014 | SEATTLE | 9-13 | L | 6 | W | 44.5 | U | 31-114 | 12-22-152 | 2 | 26-119 | 20-32-191 | 2 | | 10/30/2014 | NEW ORLEANS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/10/2014 | @ PHILADELPHIA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11/16/2014 | ATLANTA | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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| |  | NEW ORLEANS: The Saints' running game is a Frankenstein of a series of other offenses, but its basis is in between-the-tackles power. Pierre Thomas might lead the backfield committee in playing time, but the running game is better suited for big bruising backs like Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson. They'll rotate the three on early downs with Thomas staying on the field for most passing downs. Thomas is at his best on stretch plays that move the opposing front seven laterally, while the other two will work a lot of inside zone runs. Thomas got most of the carries inside the 20 last season, but Ingram started to eat into those red-zone touches late in the year once he was healthy.
The Saints will run the same kind of pass-happy, spread offense they have run since 2007. Tight end Jimmy Graham is the focal point of the passing game, flexing out and working the deep seam. Drew Brees will look for him any time Graham gets single-coverage, and often when he's double-covered too. He is by far the Saints' top option in the red zone. Marques Colston works downfield on the perimeter, as Brees reads high-to-low. Kenny Stills and Brandin Cooks will mix in as home-run hitters, and Cooks could see some of the catch-and-run work that used to go to Darren Sproles. Thomas, one of the NFL's best in the screen game, will see increased usage through the air with Sproles gone.
Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan transformed one of the worst defenses ever in 2012 to a unit that finished fourth among NFL defenses in yards, points and sacks. The addition of FS Jairus Boyd and CB Champ Bailey will help pass-rushing studs DE Cameron Jordan (12.5 sacks) and OLB Junior Galette (12 sacks) get more sacks. | | CAROLINA: The Panthers will remain one of the NFL's most run-heavy teams, employing a diverse number of looks in their ground attack. They still utilize a lot of zone-read plays featuring Cam Newton, who will likely lead all quarterbacks in rushing attempts again despite offseason ankle surgery. They run a lot of two-back looks with DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert on the field, giving them three running options between the tackles. Williams will likely hold off the injury-prone Jonathan Stewart for another year, with Kenjon Barner and rookie Tyler Gaffney battling for a roster spot.
Newton and offensive coordinator Mike Shula have their work cut out for them in the passing game after losing their top three receivers. The Carolina passing game works off of the running game, utilizing a lot of deep crossing patterns off play-action. They'll use a two- tight end base, with Ed Dickson playing in-line and Greg Olsen flexed out as their top receiving threat. Jerricho Cotchery provides another middle-of-the-field threat. Rookie Kelvin Benjamin takes over as the primary deep threat and can count on seeing the ball any time he's in single coverage. When they throw in the red zone, Olsen has always been Newton's favorite red-zone target, but Benjamin will surely take on a big role near the goal line, as he did at Florida State. Third receiver Jason Avant is better as a perimeter blocking presence than a pass-catcher at this point.
This defense became elite last year, finishing second in the NFL in both scoring defense and total defense, thanks to a league-best 60 sacks. The Panthers upgraded the secondary with CB Antoine Cason, SS Roman Harper and FS Thomas DeCoud. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER PRO FOOTBALL PREVIEW (NEW ORLEANS-CAROLINA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Saints-Panthers Preview* =========================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
A dominant primetime home victory won't mean much if the New Orleans Saints can't follow it up with a much-needed road win.
The Saints can overtake Carolina for the top spot in the weak NFC South by avoiding an eighth straight regular-season road defeat Thursday night against the struggling Panthers.
Drew Brees threw for 311 yards with three touchdowns, Mark Ingram ran for a career-high 172 and New Orleans forced three turnovers in Sunday night's 44-23 victory over a Green Bay team that averaged 36.3 points in its previous four games.
While the Saints (3-4) have reason to feel confident following their most impressive performance of the season, they've also maintained perspective.
"The important thing to understand and realize is that winning a game is not arriving," right tackle Zach Strief said.
Though New Orleans won 26-24 at Philadelphia in last season's wild-card round, its last regular-season road victory came on Nov. 21 at Atlanta.
The Saints, however, have been competitive this season away from the Superdome. New Orleans ranks 29th while yielding an average of 31.3 points in its four road contests, but it led late in the fourth quarter of three that were decided by a combined six points.
"You look at how we've lost three of those four road games and you say, `We made some critical errors at the end,"' Strief said. "It's not that we were getting dominated on the road."
Coach Sean Payton isn't putting too much emphasis on his team's road issues or that they can surpass Carolina (3-4-1) for first place in a division where no team has a winning record.
"Certainly there's all sorts of goals and there's big picture, small picture and I think what we've tried to do is really focus on the smallest picture - and that's our own team getting better," he said.
Payton should be pleased with the NFL's second-ranked offense that's seventh in rushing (133.0 yards per game) and second in yards per carry (5.1). The Saints finished 26th in rushing over the previous two seasons, averaging 95.3 yards and slightly over four per attempt.
Though a now-healthy Ingram broke out after rushing for 159 yards in his first three contests, the Saints have gone 21 straight regular-season and playoff road games without a 100-yard rusher since Pierre Thomas gained 110 in a 35-27 loss at Carolina on Sept. 16, 2012.
Perhaps that drought will end against the Panthers, who rank 28th in rushing defense (135.2) and last in yards per carry (5.2).
After giving up at least 37 points four times in the previous five games, Carolina held firm against Seattle until Russell Wilson hit Luke Willson with 47 seconds left Sunday for the game's only TD in a 13-9 home defeat.
The Panthers have won once since starting 2-0.
"If you said at the start of training camp or OTAs, 'hey, you have a chance in Week 9 to be playing for first place, would you take it?' Yeah, I'd take it," offensive coordinator Mike Shula told the Panthers' official website. "That's the mindset. You have to keep moving forward and forget about what's happened."
Shula must find a way to end the red zone problems that continue to plague the Panthers, who made three trips inside the Seattle 20 but came away with six points. Carolina's 46.2 percent TD efficiency in that area ranks 28th.
"It's tough when you don't score touchdowns and miss opportunities," coach Ron Rivera said. "You have to make hay down in the red zone."
Carolina hopes to benefit from the return of running back DeAngelo Williams, who has missed six games due to injuries, including the last four with a bad ankle. Williams, who gained 72 yards on 14 carries in a season-opening win at Tampa Bay, is expected to share time with Jonathan Stewart.
Stewart rushed for a season-high 79 on 16 attempts Sunday.
"It'll be a nice boost," said Rivera, whose team ranks 27th with 92.9 rushing yards per contest. "When he and Jonathan get rolling and doing the things they do that's a huge thing for us. That could be a nice shot in the arm."
Williams, who ran for a career-high 210 yards at New Orleans in 2012, gained 67 in a 17-13 home victory over the Saints on Dec. 22.
Cam Newton was held to 181 passing yards and sacked four times in that contest, but he hit Domenik Hixon for a 14-yard TD pass with 23 seconds left to secure the Panthers' first playoff berth since 2008.
Newton has thrown four TDs, run for two and been picked off twice while going 2-1 at home versus New Orleans.
Brees has two touchdowns, four interceptions and a 73.1 passer rating while losing the last two at Carolina.
Game Notes: |
| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 7:09:39 PM EST. |
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