The New Orleans Saints (1-1, 1-0 Away) travel to take on the Carolina Panthers (0-2, 0-1 Home) at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday. The Saints are 2.5-point favorites, and the total is 41. New Orleans is coming off a 20-10 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Caesars Superdome last Sunday. Jameis Winston threw for 236 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. Mark Ingram II ran 10 times for 58 yards. Chris Olave was targeted 13 times, catching five passes for 80 yards. Carolina lost 19-16 to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium last Sunday. Baker Mayfield was 14 of 29 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Christian McCaffrey carried 15 times for 102 yards. DJ Moore scored once. He caught three receptions for 43 yards.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The teams split their two meetings last season, the last of which was an 18-10 win for the Saints in January. Taysom Hill threw one touchdown for New Orleans.
TALE OF THE TAPE
The Saints are averaging 18.5 points per game so far this season, 19th in the NFL, and they are facing a Panthers defense that has surrendered 22.5 PPG (18th). Meanwhile, Carolina has scored 20.0 points a game this season, 15th in the league, and New Orleans is allowing 23.0 PPG (21st).The Saints rank 15th in the league in passing yards per game (252.5) and 10th in rushing (125.5). They can expect a tough test through the air, as the Panthers are second in the league in passing yards allowed per game (161.5). Against the run, Carolina is 29th (160.0).Carolina is 27th in the league in passing yards per game (190.0) and 20th in rushing (100.0), while the Saints are allowing 202.5 passing yards (7th) and 136.5 rushing yards per game (23rd).New Orleans has found the end zone on 80% of red zone trips so far this season, fourth most in the NFL, making the most of the relatively few 2.5 trips a game (31st). The Saints will have to overcome one of the league’s best red zone defenses, as the Panthers have allowed opponents to score on only 29% of red zone trips (4th). Carolina ranks as the one of the lowest volume red zone offenses in the league, advancing inside the 20-yard-line only 3.5 times per game (30th) and scoring a touchdown on 43% of those possessions (26th).
TOP PERFORMERS
Through two games, Winston has thrown for three touchdowns (3 INT) and 252.5 yards per game to lead New Orleans in passing. In one prior away game this season, he had two TDs and 269 yards passing. Hill leads the team in rushing with an average of 47.5 yards a game over two games. He has one touchdown on the ground. Jarvis Landry is the Saints’ leading receiver with 69.5 yards a game. He is averaging 5.5 receptions on 7.0 targets per game. Mayfield has two passing touchdowns (1 INT) with 190.0 yards per game through two games to lead Carolina. In one prior home game this season, he threw for one TD (1 INT) and 235 yards. McCaffrey has been the home team’s leading performer on the ground, averaging 67.5 yards a game through two games. He has one touchdown. Robbie Anderson has been the primary target in the Panthers’ passing game. He has one touchdown and a 67.0 yard per game average through two appearances.
SportsTips’ NFL Pick:
New Orleans Saints (-145)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
