Have we done enough to beat the Saints?

[bLACKpANTHER]

Looking at this team, it all doesn't matter until the last 3 weeks of the season and how do we beat the Saints (who we lost to 3x last year)...
the only major differences between us Then and us Now are...
1 WR corps: DJ & Samuel > Shepard & Bersin
2 Secondary: Reid & Jackson > Coleman & Worley

Plain and simple - Are those 2 factors enough for us to beat the Saints?

[electro's horse]

no

[Wolfpack352]

Gonna lose sleep over this one.  Brees is simply good and having Karma and Ingram, shouldn't struggle getting first downs.  But we're getting burned by TE lately.  I hope we match them point for point and get the game winning kick or touchdown.

[PantherOnTheProwl1523]

Ravens gave Aints problems when they played them and couldn't play well. We went into the game against the Ravens and pretty much walked all over them and that should give us a blueprint on how to slow the Aints down. The Ravens/Aints game should give a blueprint on how to hold Aints down.

[Bronn]

I'm going to say yes.

I think our secondary can now hang with their WRs, especially with Ginn out. I suspect both Bradberry and Jackson will see some time on Thomas. Reid and Adams are going to have to play up a bit when we play them to keep Brees honest over the middle of the field, but I think we're okay on the outside and down the field.

Where we'll need to improve before we get to them, as has been said, is pass rush. I think we'll have to compensate with some nickel and LB blitzes, but we can get pressure. Because of our safeties playing up, we'll also have run support.

One thing I've noticed with the Saints is that they are trying to get a little cutesy with incorporating Taysom Hill. I get that he's a great athlete and all that and that he adds versatility and misdirection to their offense, but I don't think he'll be that difficult to gameplan when the time comes. I'd rather him be taking up a spot on the field than either Ingram, Kamara, or a WR tbqh, so bring it on.

I'm not sold on their defense being even decent. I think we should be able to move the ball on them.

They should be high scoring games, but I expect we'll be good enough to beat them at least once.

[Saca312]

If we keep playing the same personnel we did against the Ravens, definitely. 

If we think Torrey Smith should maintain 95% of the snaps, then I'd worry.

[DeAngelo Beason]

Not yet.  I need to see a few more complete games like we had yesterday.  If we can show consistency I will have faith we can hang.

[countryboi]

you guys worry to much about the saints, its a division game. those games are tough as poo no matter the record. we always have enough to beat the saints and enough to get our ass kicked. 

[jfra78]

This Panther team is better than last year by far, can you say the same for the saints?  After the way they handled Baltimore, its obvious we can beat anyone.  Honestly we probably go 1-1 against them with a win at home

[Adb6368]

When looking at remaining schedules, I'm confident (ok, maybe semi-confident) that if we split the season series with them we win the division. They have a rough schedule and I do think the holes they have shown before are still there. 

If we beat them at home, we'll be in a good spot. That is also assuming that we can get our revenge game against the Falcons at home.

[ladypanther]

19 minutes ago, bLACKpANTHER said:

Looking at this team, it all doesn't matter until the last 3 weeks of the season and how do we beat the Saints (who we lost to 3x last year)...
the only major differences between us Then and us Now are...
1 WR corps: DJ & Samuel > Shepard & Bersin
2 Secondary: Reid & Jackson > Coleman & Worley

Plain and simple - Are those 2 factors enough for us to beat the Saints?

You forgot Norv.  The Panthers would have beaten the Saints in the playoffs last year if they could have gotten in ball in the endzone

[CRA]

14 minutes ago, thebigcat said:

NO... we don't have enough to put pressure on Brees and get him off the spot. If this team is going to contend, we need a pass rusher or Brees/Goff are going to carve us up

have always said with Norv, the O would get better as the season gets on.  Wouldn't take shape until midseason.

Same can be said for a first time playcaller in Washington.  There is a learning curve.  We talent to get to the QB....we have time to get better.  We have time for him to learn how to get to the QB.  Past few years was largely scheme and well timed blitzing being part of that.  We can get there. 

[raz]

who knows.   who knows.   who knows.   depends which team shows up, injuries by then...   they are good.  they too can beat anyone on any given sunday

[CRA]

also, the Saints D was MUCH better last year than this year