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Because I have a penchant for looking foolish, I will go first and make my prediction. I actually have two bets on this game. The first was made weeks ago with a friend in North Carolina who is a Panthers fan--I have the Saints to win. The second was a modest wager made yesterday at Beau Rivage--I took Carolina and three points.
My prediction: Carolina wins, 20-19.
My reasons:
1. There is the saying in the NFL that often it does not matter who you play, but when you play them. At the moment, the Saints are missing Michael Thomas, Erik McCoy, Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata and perhaps Marshon Lattimore. All five players are not just starters, but star players. Also, there is the uncertainty over the absence of so many assistant coaches because of Covid. If the Saints are healthy, they are clearly the better team. But they are not, and this will be a competitive game.
2. The last two years, for whatever reason, we have struggled in week two on the road. In 2020, we lost to the Raiders, 34-24. In 2019, we lost to Los Angeles, 27-9.
3. Carolina has a competitive team. The win against the Jets showed little because of the quality of the opposition. But the Panthers currently have much better talent at the skill positions on offense (McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Anderson)--at some point, our weakness at receiver without Thomas will be glaring--and they have on defense a good front seven and some talent in the secondary. I like our defensive front against Carolina's offensive line, but Carolina's defensive front is going to be a bigger challenge than Green Bay's defensive front.
I expect a close and competitive game, but I give Carolina the edge. And the main reason is that at some point, the amount of adversity faced by a team reaches a tipping point.
My prediction: Carolina wins, 20-19.
My reasons:
1. There is the saying in the NFL that often it does not matter who you play, but when you play them. At the moment, the Saints are missing Michael Thomas, Erik McCoy, Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata and perhaps Marshon Lattimore. All five players are not just starters, but star players. Also, there is the uncertainty over the absence of so many assistant coaches because of Covid. If the Saints are healthy, they are clearly the better team. But they are not, and this will be a competitive game.
2. The last two years, for whatever reason, we have struggled in week two on the road. In 2020, we lost to the Raiders, 34-24. In 2019, we lost to Los Angeles, 27-9.
3. Carolina has a competitive team. The win against the Jets showed little because of the quality of the opposition. But the Panthers currently have much better talent at the skill positions on offense (McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, Anderson)--at some point, our weakness at receiver without Thomas will be glaring--and they have on defense a good front seven and some talent in the secondary. I like our defensive front against Carolina's offensive line, but Carolina's defensive front is going to be a bigger challenge than Green Bay's defensive front.
I expect a close and competitive game, but I give Carolina the edge. And the main reason is that at some point, the amount of adversity faced by a team reaches a tipping point.
