Who will show up for this one? The Panthers team that started 3-0 or the one that has since gone 0-5? With Rodney Peete back at QB, I’m betting we will see something closer to the team that started the season strong.
The Panthers still have the league’s second stingiest defense, holding opponents to just 14.6 points per game. Their offense, with Peete in the lineup, should show marked improvement over the 7.3 points per game the Panthers were able to put up without him at the helm.
Look for the Panthers to bottle up the Duece and make New Orleans win through the air. The Panthers’ linebackers are the fastest in the league and are capable of not only containing the Saints’ running game but keeping Aaron Brooks in check. If Carolina’s defense can continue its dominance, Peete can put up the 21 or so points needed to win this game against a bad Saints defense (25th in the league in points allowed).
The Panthers also qualify for a home underdog situation that is 85-42 against the spread.