Panthers hope to slow down Drew Brees

Panthers lead series, 23-20. LB Luke Kuechly is averaging 10.6 tackles per game in eight meetings with Saints. The New Orleans Saints are set to play the Carolina Panthers. “Their pressure on the quarterback has increased”. “All you want to do is get back on the field as fast as you can, ” New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees said.

This Thursday night, the Saints play the Carolina Panthers and veteran, dynamic quarterback Cam Newton. They also committed a first-round pick to running back Ezekiel Elliott this year.

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 465 yards and four TDs vs. Carolina on October 16. In those four games, the 16-year pro has completed 74.8% of his passes for 1,258 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Carolina’s running game has struggled in Kalil’s absence.

If there’s one thing in the Panthers’ favor in the passing game, it’s the location of the game. But in a game that’s bound to be high-scoring, the Panthers defense should be the difference, assuming it can make the Saints offense one-dimensional. But the Panthers believe their secondary has improved thanks to the return of cornerback James Bradberry. Those numbers look even more impressive when you consider that those 4 games include a road tilt against the Chiefs and home games against the Broncos and Seahawks.

Benjamin flashed the gloves last week, snagging passes out of the air easily on route to a seven catch performance for 84 yards.

Drew Brees won’t throw for 400. Brees has been a thorn in the Panthers’ side for years, but never more than in his team’s 41-38 victory on October 16.

Brees threw the ball 49 times, while the Saints rushed the ball just 21 times in the 41-38 victory over the Panthers. So this time around, I expect Newton to take off with the ball a few more times.

-Saints’ front seven vs. Panthers QB Cam Newton. They won’t get six against Newton, but they’ll reach three sacks, including two by defensive end Cameron Jordan. But while the short week can take its toll on players’ bodies and coaches’ game-planning, the upside is that it gives teams a quick way to forget about a bad loss the previous week.

It was a physical game with each defense getting four sacks. Given the hard time the Saints secondary has weekly, Benjamin is a solid play for Thursday. Depending on how quickly the Saints put up points, a strong Panthers rushing game may not matter as much.

And now, Panthers players certainly remember Snead as they see the young receiver and their NFC South opponent twice a year. The Panthers’ defense has played better of late, due mostly to the re-emergence of its pass rush.

“The best thing that can happen for us is the next game coming up in four days”, WR Brandin Cooks said.

The division races are so tight heading into Week 11 that a team in last place could be in first two weeks from now just by winning two games in a row. “Weve got to bounce back and find a way to get a win this week.”. If the Panthers don’t stifle Brees, this could become a big shootout.