A week ago, the Saints were staring at a 2-5 record coming out of the bye and wondering when the Superdome would finally give them something to celebrate. One overtime win later, the picture looks a lot different. New Orleans beat Cleveland 23-22 on Sunday, and with the rest of the NFC South stumbling, the Saints can walk into Week 10 with a chance to move into first place.
That’s where this gets interesting. New Orleans and Carolina both sit at 3-5, and Sunday’s matchup in the Superdome gives the winner four victories plus the head-to-head edge over the other team that entered the week at 3-5. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are both 3-6, which keeps the division wide open and gives the Saints a real shot to create some separation with nine games still to play.
For New Orleans, the challenge is simple to say and harder to pull off: stack another good Sunday on top of the last one. The Saints finally got their first home win of the season against Cleveland, and now they get a second straight game in their own building coming out of the bye.
Beat Carolina, and they’ve got back-to-back wins and a division result the Panthers will have to chase later. Lose, and the Saints give away a chance to build on the momentum they just earned.
The matchup also puts a spotlight on whether New Orleans can keep doing what it did against Cleveland. The Saints held the Browns to 95 rushing yards on 34 carries, and Kaden Elliss was all over the field with 11 tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss and four quarterback hits. That was a strong showing against the run, but Cleveland still hit two touchdowns on passes of at least 39 yards.
That’s the part to watch against Carolina, which is coming off a 26-21 loss to Denver. The Panthers may try to find out whether the Saints can tackle in space just as well as they defended the run. The first time a Carolina receiver catches a ball underneath on third down, the test is on: does the nearest Saint get him down short of the sticks, and does help arrive before the play turns into something bigger?
If Elliss and the front keep winning early downs, New Orleans can force Carolina into tougher situations and give Tyler Shough more chances with decent field position. That’s the path the Saints need if they want this week to mean more than just a split after the bye.
The Saints and Panthers kick off at noon Central on Sunday, Nov. 15, in the Superdome. With both teams sitting at 3-5, this one carries real weight. If New Orleans gets it done, the conversation changes fast.
In Other News...
Saints May Have Found An Unexpected Answer In The Backfield
Audric Estime arrived in New Orleans as a waiver claim after being let go by Cleveland, and he wasted little time making himself part of the conversation in the Saints backfield. With injuries thinning the group, Estime handled a heavy workload in the overtime win and finished as the teams leading rusher, giving the offense a steadier presence than it had been able to count on in recent weeks.
He also chipped in as a receiver and, more importantly, showed he could shoulder a meaningful role when the Saints needed one. With Carolina up next, Estime suddenly looks like a real candidate to carry the load again, which is a notable development for a team still sorting out its running back picture. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Brees Could Be In Line For A Huge NFL TV Role
Drew Brees may be one of the more intriguing names to watch as the NFL broadcasting carousel starts to turn. With Troy Aikmans ESPN Monday Night Football contract reportedly nearing its end without a renewal offer, the networks top booth is suddenly a topic again, and Brees has already made clear he would be interested in stepping into that kind of spotlight.
For Saints fans, it would be a notable next chapter for one of the franchises most recognizable figures, even if he is still working on Foxs No. 3 team for now. A move to Monday Night Football would be a clear step up in visibility and prestige, and Brees appears to see it that way as well, leaving his name in the mix as ESPN weighs its options. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Rookies Costly Mistake Led To A Bigger Moment Late
Barion Browns afternoon against the Browns had the kind of early miscue that can stick with a rookie return man. After reversing field twice on a punt return, the Saints receiver coughed up the ball, a mistake that could have sent a young player into the background for the rest of the game. Instead, quarterback Tyler Shough made a point of encouraging Brown on the sideline, keeping the moment from defining the day.
Browns response mattered even more. He stayed involved on special teams and later delivered a pair of punt returns that gave New Orleans a much better field position, including one that helped set up a go-ahead touchdown. For a rookie still learning the speed and pressure of the league, it was a reminder that one mistake does not have to be the last word. [Read more 🡒]