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The score when Carolina knocked off New Orleans last December: 41–38. The score when New Orleans returned the favor earlier this year: 41–38.
Both of those games took place in the Superdome. There were fewer fireworks last time the Panthers hosted this rivalry (27–22, Carolina), but the odds are stacked heavily against a defensive slugfest Thursday night.
That said, both teams have taken incremental steps forward defensively. The Saints have held their four opponents since that Week 6 showdown with Carolina under 30 points—doesn’t sound like much but four of their first five opponents scored 34 or more. And the Panthers have allowed an average of just 16.7 points over their past three games, while racking up 15 sacks.
“They’re a very, very good defense, from their front, to their linebacker corps—which I think is probably the best in the league—to the secondary,” Saints QB Drew Brees said Tuesday, via his team’s website. “They’ve got guys that fly around and make plays, they thrive on giving you a lot of different looks at times and having a good pressure package, trying to create turnovers. That’s something they’ve been very good at in the past.”
By Chris Burke
Full Story - SI.com