Tag: New Orleans Saints

Panthers vs. Saints: 7 questions about their Week 12 matchup

While the team’s 2019 playoff hopes are effectively over, this is still a critical game for the franchise.

The Panthers don’t appear ready to face a team like the Saints, who have dominated Carolina and the rest of the NFC South for three seasons running. Nevertheless, they’re next on the schedule. While the team’s 2019 playoff hopes are basically finished, this is still a critical game for the franchise.

There are a ton of questions about where the Panthers are going and how they’ll manage their most important assets as the regular season winds down. Here are seven we will be keeping in mind on Sunday.

1. Will the Saints close the door on the division again?

Sean Payton, Drew Brees
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans comes into this matchup with a significant lead over Carolina in the division race. A win would push their lead over the Panthers to four games with only five left to play in the season. With both the Falcons and the Buccaneers out of the picture, that means the Saints can effectively clinch their third straight division title on Sunday. On the flip side, the Panthers have a chance to play the spoiler. Their odds aren’t great. At the moment, they’re 9.5-point underdogs.

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Marshon Lattimore, Deonte Harris DNP on Saints injury report

The initial New Orleans Saints injury report for their Week 12 game with the Carolina Panthers rested Marshon Lattimore and Deonte Harris.

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Despite being short-handed in Week 11, the New Orleans Saints had multiple role players step up into starting roles and help the team to a 34-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, in Week 12, the Carolina Panthers will visit the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the third NFC South matchup in as many weeks for the Saints.

Last week, cornerback Marshon Lattimore and kick-return specialist Deonte Harris were both out with hamstring injuries, and those ailments held them out of practice again on Wednesday. Week 12’s injury report will shed some light on the possibility of return for either of the two electric playmakers. Unfortunately, left guard Andrus Peat will miss at least a month with a broken arm. Tight end Josh Hill, who suffered a concussion last week, was a limited participant.

The injury reports published by the Saints and the Panthers on Wednesday are the initial reports for the week. A second, updated report will be released on Thursday. The final injury report with game status for certain players will be issued on Friday. Daily changes in practice participation are noted in bold text.

From the Saints

  • OL Andrus Peat (forearm), Did not participate
  • CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring), Did not participate
  • WR Deonte Harris (hamstring), Did not participate
  • FB Zach Line (knee), Did not participate
  • TE Josh Hill (concussion), Limited
  • OL Larry Warford (thigh), Limited
  • WR Austin Carr (ankle), Limited
  • OL Ryan Ramczyk (knee), Limited

From the Panthers

  • CB Ross Cockrell (quad), Did not participate
  • DT Gerald McCoy (knee), Did not participate
  • OL Dennis Daley (groin), Limited
  • S Eric Reid (knee), Limited
  • LB Shaq Thompson (ankle), Limited
  • LB Brian Burns (wrist), Full

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Report: Josh Hill suffered ‘mild’ concussion vs. Buccaneers

The New Orleans Saints lost backup tight end Josh Hill with a concussion, which one report described as a mild injury rather than serious.

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The New Orleans Saints lost a big part of their offense on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when backup tight end Josh Hill was ruled out from returning to the game with a concussion. Hill isn’t the pass-catching threat many would expect a valued Saints tight end to perform as, but he fills a critical role in the offense as one of their best blockers. Saints coach Sean Payton described his loss as like losing the front door to a house, requiring a quick scramble to adjust his playsheet.

Fortunately, Hill appears to have escaped a serious brain injury. Per Larry Holder of The Athletic, Hill’s concussion was described as mild, though the team still took all precautions to protect his health. Hill was a limited participant in practice on the Wednesday Saints injury report, which is encouraging. It’s worth noting that he was limited in practice throughout the week before the Buccaneers game with a calf issue, though it didn’t slow him down in the game.

Hill has averaged nearly 39 snaps per game this season, often outplaying big free agent signing Jared Cook. Still, it isn’t really fair to compare the two of them given their vastly different skills sets; Hill is a blocker first and a receiver second, while the Saints spent the summer suggesting Cook’s arrival would allow them to open up a part of the playbook once designed for Jimmy Graham. If Cook continues to catch touchdowns like his high-flying grab against Tampa Bay, he might end up earning that adulation.

Even if this latest concussion is only a minor hurdle, fans should remember that it’s the third brain injury in as many years for Hill. He exited last year’s NFC championship game with a concussion and dealt with another one early in the 2017 season. Here’s hoping this isn’t the beginning of a trend like the series of concussions that ended Coby Fleener’s Saints career.

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Chad Ochocinco endorses Michael Thomas for NFL MVP

Debates are raging on who should be the NFL’s Most Valuable Player but Chad Ochocinco says New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas has his vote

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It’s tough to decide who deserves recognition as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player this year. Second-year Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been sensational, giving the AFC another young passer to challenge the New England Patriots hegemony (Tom Brady’s team has represented the AFC in 4 of the last 5 Super Bowl matchups). But he’s hardly without competition, with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson expanding his highlight reel every week in an offense built to minimize his impact.

However, former NFL wide receiver Chad Johnson, also known as “Ochocinco,” wants to remind everyone that the award goes to the league’s Most Valuable Player, not just the best quarterback. And in his eyes, only one player is worth considering: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Johnson advocated for Thomas on his official Twitter account, praising the Saints’ centerpiece for his consistency in spite of defenses scheming to stop him each and every week:

His past antics aside (like that time Johnson awarded himself his own Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket), Johnson has a point. Thomas is on pace to shatter the record for single-season receptions set by Marvin Harrison, and he’s put up rare efficiency for any receiver, much less someone who sees as high a volume of targets.

There have been games where Thomas was the only Saints player open or able to make a play, and the ball has found him whether Drew Brees, Teddy Bridgewater, or Taysom Hill were at quarterback. He’s certainly the Saints’ team MVP; the question, then, is whether the NFL’s voters will give him the respect he’s earned.

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Will Week 12’s Saints-Panthers game be broadcast in your area?

The New Orleans Saints are heading into their third NFC South divisional matchup in as many weeks, this time hosting the Carolina Panthers.

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The New Orleans Saints are heading into their third NFC South divisional matchup in as many weeks when they host the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. Week 11 proved to be the game where the Saints got back on track after a horrible showing against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10.

Injuries to several key players left a lot of questions to be answered in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the Saints were able to overcome that adversity and thrived against a normally high-flying Tampa Bay offense. Even if cornerback Marshon Lattimore were to miss another week, there should be little question as to whether P.J. Williams can handle starting duties against struggling Panthers quarterback Kyle Allen.

New Orleans will need to play their brand of physically-dominant football if they hope to beat the Panthers, who are led by MVP-caliber running back Christian McCaffrey. If the Saints can defeat the Panthers on Sunday, it would give New Orleans a four-game advantage in the division, with only five games left to go in the season. Another Saints win and Panthers loss the following week would lock up a third consecutive NFC South title for New Orleans.

This week’s broadcast map from 506 Sports highlights the coverage for each of the games during the early slate on CBS. The markets in red run from coast to coast, and will show the Saints-Panthers game with Tony Romo and Jim Nantz on the call. The late afternoon slate, highlighted in blue, will feature the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. Those areas in green will catch the Oakland Raiders’ face-off against the New York Jets. Markets in yellow will be able to watch the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. Finally, areas in orange will be able to view the Pittsburgh Steelers and the winless Cincinnati Bengals. Be sure to scour the map and see if you’ll be watching when the Saints kick off with the Panthers:

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Saints backups impressed when filling in for injured starters vs. Bucs

The New Orleans Saints were without key players Marshon Lattimore, Andrus Peat, and Deonte Harris, but backups and fill-ins impressed.

The New Orleans Saints were in a tough spot in Week 11. Injuries struck a number of key starters, including cornerback Marshon Lattimore and special teams returner Deonte Harris (each battling hamstring injuries), as well as Pro Bowl left guard Andrus Peat (sidelined for an extended time with a broken arm). These injuries meant that a number of New Orleans Saints backups had to step up into starting roles, and luckily, they rise to the occasion against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Let’s break it down.

Nick Easton in for Andrus Peat

New Orleans knows exactly what they have in Peat — a player that can execute most blocks and maybe get into the Pro Bowl as an alternate. However, Peat’s lengthy injury history (from his broken hand last season, to the broken leg the year before, to enduring ankle issues before that) and now a broken arm this season has kept him far from the discussion of the league’s elite.

Many fans believed that Will Clapp would take over for the injured Peat; however, it would be the veteran Nick Easton who would get the nod. Easton had spent much of the season as a healthy inactive before being called up for the Week 11 matchup with the Buccaneers. It was easy to see how Easton impacted the game, and how the Saints had made the right choice.

After taking six sacks against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10, quarterback Drew Brees stayed upright with zero sacks for the entire game against Tampa Bay. A large part of this was due to the fact that Terron Armstead had recovered from his bout with the flu, but credit must be given to Easton for his level of play next to him.

With Peat out for much of the regular season, Easton should be expected to get the majority of snaps at left guard, and it’s possible that the offensive line’s play will improve because of it.

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Future of Saints QB situation graded as too complicated to covet

The New Orleans Saints might have the NFL’s best quarterback situation in 2019, but free agency looms for Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater.

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The New Orleans Saints quarterbacks depth chart is one that should be the envy of the NFL. Drew Brees is a Hall of Fame-bound passer, sitting comfortably on top. Teddy Bridgewater proved his worth as a backup who can win games in this league. And Taysom Hill is a dynamic reserve who can fill in at almost any position, up to and including quarterback.

But according to our friends over at Touchdown Wire, that short-term strength comes with a price. All three of those quarterbacks are going to be free agents after this season, and the Saints have a tough decision to make on whether to keep Brees or Bridgewater. It’s possible they’re able to re-sign both of them, but Bridgewater will have earned far more opportunities — and much bigger contract demands — than what he was offered in the last signing cycle. And that potential instability ranks New Orleans’ outlook at the position low among the league; at No. 24, to be exact:

If this ranking pertained only to this season, the Saints might be No. 1. They have a future Hall of Famer in Drew Brees and, when he missed five games with a thumb injury, backup Teddy Bridgewater went 5-0. The Saints should have a deep playoff run this year. But, after that, things get cloudy in a hurry. Brees will turn 41 in January. He’s still going strong. It’s difficult to imagine the Saints choosing to keep Bridgewater as the starter over Brees because coach Sean Payton and Brees have such a close working relationship. It’s also difficult to imagine Bridgewater choosing to stay in New Orleans as a backup when he could likely get a starting job in free agency. Third-stringer Taysom Hill never will rise to the starting role. He’s a multipurpose threat and is used mostly on gimmick plays. Unless the Saints find a magical way to keep Bridgewater, it will be time to start looking for an eventual replacement for Brees. “Don’t be surprised if the Saints find a way to keep Bridgewater,” a panelist said. “(General manager Mickey) Loomis and Payton can be very charming. The smart move is to keep Teddy, even if he’s your backup for another year or two until Brees retires. They’ll be willing to throw good cash at him.”

To put a more optimistic spin on it: the Saints have at least two NFL quarterbacks in the building they can put faith in, and they’ll probably have their pick of them in the spring. Bridgewater will be able to command a starting quarterback’s salary in the range of $20 million or better per year, which is close to the decreased salary Brees agreed to accept the last time his contract ran out.

The Saints can afford to keep one of them, but they’ll be hard-pressed to recruit Bridgewater if Brees is determined to continue playing. At least Hill can return on a low-cost restricted free agent tender, at least for one more year.

Fortunately, the Saints have plenty of time to figure this situation out. Hopefully they’ll be able to do so with everyone crowded around the Lombardi Trophy after winning Super Bowl LIV.

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Panthers vs. Saints: Time, channel, stream for Week 12 matchup

Here’s all the info you need for Sunday’s game.

The Panthers couldn’t beat the Falcons at home last week. Now, they’ll have to face the reigning division champions on the road.

Here’s all the info you need for Sunday’s game.

Game information

Carolina Panthers (5-5) vs. New Orleans Saints (8-2)

Sunday, Nov. 24, 1:00 p.m. ET

Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA

Television: CBS

The game will be broadcast on CBS in the red areas on the map below.

via 506sports

Broadcasters

Tony Romo, Jim Nantz, Tracy Wolfson

Referee assignment

Alex Kemp

Weather at kickoff

Indoors

Stream

You can stream the game live on Fubo TV. (Start your free trial).

Listen

The team’s flagship radio station is WBT 1110 AM.

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Saints surpass the Patriots in Week 11 NFL Power Rankings

The New Orleans Saints surpassed the New England Patriots in the Week 11 NFL power rankings, but they still trail the San Francisco 49ers.

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The New Orleans Saints dismantled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, stealing four interceptions from wayward quarterback Jameis Winston and doing whatever they wanted on offense. It was a statement win coming off of their worst loss in recent memory, and established a strong precedent moving forward.

According to the latest NFL power rankings from Doug Farrar over at Touchdown Wire, that performance was enough to vault the Saints ahead of the New England Patriots to rank third-best in the league. Here’s some of what Farrar wrote to justify the Saints’ rise in Week 11:

By bracketing Mike Evans with cornerback P.J. Williams and safety Marcus Williams, New Orleans kept Tampa Bay’s top receiver in check with four receptions on eight targets for 69 yards, and two interceptions when targeted. On offense, Drew Brees was ruthlessly efficient against Tampa Bay’s shredded secondary, completing 28 of 35 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Michael Thomas, Brees’ top target, had eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Thomas has 94 receptions on the season, passing Marvin Harrison and Julio Jones for the most catches in the first 10 games of a season in NFL history.

It was as impressive a win as the Saints have put together this season. The teams ranked ahead of them have posted up some lofty stats of their own, however, and we’ll actually get to see them kick off in two weeks: the San Francisco 49ers are ranked at No. 2, while their next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, still sits at the top spot. Depending on how that game turns out, the opportunity is there for the Saints to climb even higher.

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