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On the heels of their crushing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers are now set for another NFC South encounter as they will meet the New Orleans Saints in Week 17.
The Panthers had a performance to forget in their Week 16 home defeat to the Buccaneers. Quarterbacks Sam Darnold and Cam Newton struggled to get much going during their respective runs in anchoring the offense. On the other side of the field, the Panthers front seven did not have much to go its way in both the pass rush and defending against the run, especially as Tampa Bay amounted to 159 rushing yards on the day.
For more insight on the Panthers' Week 17 matchup against the Saints, listen below:
The Panthers could look to play the role of spoiler in Week 17. The Saints are still much alive for a wild-card spot in the NFC playoff picture. They moved down to the No. 10 seed in the conference following their loss to the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football last week. Still, the Saints could sneak into the playoffs by winning their final two games of the season coupled with getting outside help along the way.
Even as the Panthers have now been officially eliminated from playoff contention, they could use a pair of wins to finish regular season play on a promising note. First, they would need to take care of business against the Saints, and they must achieve each of these four feats in order to do just that.
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Panthers Week 17 predictions
4. Panthers finally get back to running the football
In their last two games, the Panthers shied away from opting to go with running back Chuba Hubbard for key rush attempts on offense and instead heavily relied on their pass attack. Of course, this came as the Panthers faced early double-digit deficits, which forced them to primarily elect for a multitude of passing plays in order to get back in the contests.
This week, the Panthers should call upon Hubbard to help balance out the offense for quarterback Sam Darnold. The rookie running back has totaled for a mere 26 rush attempts in Carolina’s last four games, where he has notched 88 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
If the Panthers aim to be unpredictable on offense against Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and his defensive unit, then they must open up the playbook with a multitude of zone run plays.
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3. Panthers secondary steps up in Stephon Gilmore’s expected absence
Barring any major changes in the coming days, Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore is not expected to take part in the upcoming matchup with the Saints due to a groin injury. The veteran cornerback sustained the injury during the recent loss to the Buccaneers, which has since forced him to miss Carolina's opening two scheduled practice sessions of the week.
Thus, several Panthers defensive backs will have to step up to the occasion against the Saints in Gilmore’s expected absence.
This upcoming contest should provide the likes of cornerbacks Keith Taylor and Stantley Thomas-Oliver III with an opportunity to prove their worth to the Panthers coaching staff at this late point in the season. For one, Taylor received an increase in snaps played last week following Gilmore’s injury; he played in 49 percent of snaps on defense. He may be called upon plenty of times in key downs against the Saints.
2. Darnold forms promising chemistry with Robby Anderson
Over the early portions of the season, Darnold found quite a difficult time in forming keen chemistry with wide receiver Robby Anderson. The two simply struggled to connect on crucial plays over the course of games. For one, Anderson was targeted 11 times by Darnold in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings and hauled in a mere three receptions.
If Darnold aims to post a promising performance this week, then he needs to get going with Anderson — and he should do just that.
Anderson well has what it takes to post a 100-plus receiving yards game against the potent Saints secondary.
1. Panthers come away with a crucial win over the Saints
There is a possibility that the Saints could be eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17. For one, a Saints loss in Week 17 coupled with wins by the San Francisco 49ers (at home against the Texans) and Philadelphia Eagles (on the road against Washington) would see them be knocked out of the running for a wild-card spot in the NFC.
This should all transpire this week in what may be a chaotic Week 17 in the NFL.
