With the Panthers heading to New Orleans with matching records and in second place, having already lost a game to their division rivals and in danger of falling two games out of the NFC South lead and a guaranteed playoff berth, this game has a must-win feeling to go along with a playoff atmosphere. Add in some trash talk between Cam Newton and defensive end Cam Jordan, a decision by the television networks to flex the game to 4:25, and an NFC that seems as if ten wins may not even get you a wild-card spot, the game Sunday is looking to be the biggest of the season thus far. After the Saints beat up on the Panthers at Bank Of America Stadium 34-13 in Week 3, the Panthers have some extra motivation this week.
To get you ready for Sunday, here’s a look at the two teams’ offensive production thus far:
Panthers | Statistic | Saints |
333.2 | Yards/Game | 409.4 |
5.08 | Yards/Play | 6.41 |
129.2 | Rushing Yards/Game | 142.1 |
4.2 | Rushing Yards/Play | 4.95 |
204 | Passing Yards/Game | 267.3 |
6.29 | Passing Yards/Play | 7.88 |
3.08%% | Interception Rate | 1.34% |
7.28% | Sacks/Pass Attempt | 3.49% |
20.5 | First Downs/Game | 21.7 |
8.4 | Punt Return Average | 6.4 |
21.3 | Kickoff Return Average | 19.5 |
95.83% | Field Goal Percentage | 85.71% |
44.59% | Third Down Percentage | 38.81% |
43% | Fourth Down Percentage | 80.00% |
54.29% | Red Zone Percentage | 61% |
66.67% | Goal To Go Percentage | 70% |
33:32:00 | Average Time Of Possession | 31:33:00 |
22.5 | Points/Game | 29.3 |
And Carolina’s specialty, the defense:
Panthers | Statistic | Saints |
288.3 | Yards/Game | 334.7 |
5.1 | Yards/Play | 5.46 |
83.2 | Rushing Yards/Game | 112.9 |
3.89 | Rushing Yards/Play | 4.6 |
205.1 | Passing Yards/Game | 221.8 |
6.35 | Passing Yards/Play | 6.54 |
1.41% | Interception Rate | 2.95% |
9.01% | Sacks/Pass Attempt | 8.31% |
16.2 | First Downs/Game | 18.5 |
4.9 | Punt Return Average | 13.1 |
21.9 | Kickoff Return Average | 26.2 |
35.51% | Third Down Percentage | 39.58% |
26.67% | Fourth Down Percentage | 33.33% |
63.64% | Red Zone Percentage | 54.85% |
71.43% | Goal To Go Percentage | 71.43% |
18.8 | Points/Game | 20.2 |
Some Fun Facts:
- If the playoffs began today, the NFC South would be represented by three teams; since 2002, the NFC South has been in the NFC Championship game nine out of 15 seasons. Carolina is the only NFC South team to go to the Super Bowl twice in that span.
- Since Ron Rivera took the helm in 2011, the Panthers have posted a 20-6 overall record in December,12-4 against the NFC South. That is the second best record in the league during the last month of the regular season, second only to New England at 21-5.
- The Panthers are the only team in the NFL with 100-yard receiving games from four different players (Dickson, Benjamin, McCaffrey, Funchess) this year.
- The Saints allow 4.6 yards per rushing attempt, good for 29th in the league; Carolina is averaging 129.2 rushing yards per game, fifth in the league. Carolina has averaged 185 yards per game on the ground over the last four games, highest in the NFL during that stretch; New Orleans has not allowed 185 yards on the ground in any game this season.
- In eight games against the Saints, Mario Addison has had 5.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, nine quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
- Cam Newton leads the NFL in rushing first downs on third downs with 15; Carolina is one of four teams to rank in the top 10 in the NFL on third down both offensively and defensively.