The Saints are walking into Sunday with a matchup that should make their offense breathe a little easier. Carolina’s pass rush has been the soft spot in the entire NFL, and New Orleans has enough firepower up front to make that weakness matter fast.
Chase Young and Carl Granderson have combined for 15.5 sacks, which already tops the Panthers’ entire defense. Carolina has only 12 sacks as a unit through nine weeks, tying for worst in the league.
That’s not just a slump - it’s been a problem all year. The Panthers entered the season with the NFL’s worst sack rate at 4%, and even after trying to patch things up in the offseason by signing linebacker Jaelan Phillips, they’ve somehow slipped backward.
The injury picture has only made things worse for Carolina. Nic Scourton led the team in pressures last season, but he tore his ACL on the first day of training camp.
Phillips has also been limited by injuries that have kept him from being fully available or fully effective. For New Orleans, that’s the kind of setup a pass rush wants to see.
That matters even more because the Saints are making changes of their own along the offensive line. Center Erik McCoy is expected to miss several weeks with a bicep injury, which pushes Cesar Ruiz into his old college position and gives rookie Jeremiah Wright another start at right guard.
Under normal circumstances, that would be a tough ask. Against this Panthers front, it looks far more manageable.
Tyler Shough has been sacked 20 times, so the Saints quarterback has taken his share of punishment. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story here.
After McCoy went down late in the last game, New Orleans still found its rhythm, piling up nearly a third of its total pass yards and rush yards - 47 and 92 - along with the team’s only two touchdowns of the day. If the Saints can recreate that stretch, Shough should have one of his best pockets in weeks.
There’s another angle working in New Orleans’ favor, too. Carolina has allowed a league-worst 9.1 yards per play on contested catches, and that opens the door for Shough and Chris Olave to attack. If the line can give Shough even a little time, the Saints have a chance to let that connection shine in front of the home crowd.
With the division race tightening, this game carries real weight for New Orleans. The Saints are on the verge of their first back-to-back wins in 2026, and Sunday will decide the top team in the NFC South. If the offensive line holds up, Carolina’s defense may not have enough juice to keep up.
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Saints Backfield Could Look Very Different Against Carolina
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For a Saints offense that has been searching for more consistency, the timing matters. Etiennes return would give New Orleans another option to work into the rotation and could change how the team manages touches against the Panthers, even if the final decision on his availability remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]