Sunday, December 7, 2014 at 1:00 PM on FOX

Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Sunday afternoon, the Carolina Panthers will take the field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as they face the New Orleans Saints.

The Carolina Panthers will come into this game after getting embarrassed by the Minnesota Vikings 31 – 13 last week.  The loss dropped their record to 3-8-1, but amazingly, they still have a shot to win the NFC South division.  All four of the division’s teams have sub .500 records and anyone (well anyone except the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), has a shot to win the division.  But the Panthers didn’t do themselves any favors by getting blown out by the Vikings.    The Carolina offense couldn’t get anything going, the defense couldn’t stop the Vikings and the special teams allowed 2 blocked punts to be returned for touchdowns. All in all, it was a dreadful performance but they can actually help themselves out if they can beat the Saints.

The New Orleans Saints looked better than their record indicated last Sunday when they beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 35 -32.  After the Steelers took a 6 -0 lead in the 1st quarter, the Saints answered with 21 straight points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters to take over the game.  They continued their march and eventually went up 35 -16 in the 4th quarter before things almost fell apart.  The defense that had shut down the Steelers earlier, started to let Pittsburgh back in the game. New Orleans gave up 14 points in the 4th to make the game too close for comfort.  Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 5 touchdowns against a decent Pittsburgh defense and he will take on a Carolina defense that couldn’t stop the Saints in October.  A Saints win could get them closer to .500 and help them win an impossibly weak division.       

Carolina Panthers Betting Trends

Carolina Panthers are 6-6-0 Against the Spread

Carolina Panthers are 7-5-0 against the Over/Under

New Orleans Saints Betting Trends

New Orleans Saints are 5-7-0 Against the Spread

New Orleans Saints are 9-3-0 against the Over/Under

Injuries to Watch

Carolina Panthers

12/01/14 G Amini Silatolu Knee "?" Sunday vs. New Orleans
12/01/14 RB DeAngelo Williams Hand "?" Sunday vs. New Orleans
12/01/14 DT Star Lotulelei Ankle "?" Sunday vs. New Orleans
10/30/14 LB Chase Blackburn Knee IR
10/08/14 TE Richie Brockel Ankle IR
10/06/14 DE Frank Alexander Suspension eligible to return week 16 vs Cleveland Browns
09/27/14 T Garry Williams Back IR
09/17/14 DE Greg Hardy Legal problems out for season
09/04/14 OG Edmund Kugbila Back IR

New Orleans Saints

11/30/14 NT Brodrick Bunkley Quad IR
11/30/14 RB Khiry Robinson Forearm "?" Sunday vs. Carolina
11/30/14 LB Kyle Knox Hand "?" Sunday vs. Carolina
11/19/14 WR Brandin Cooks Thumb IR
11/17/14 S Rafael Bush Leg out indefinitely
11/07/14 FB Austin Johnson Knee IR
10/23/14 DE Glenn Foster Knee IR
10/04/14 S Jairus Byrd Knee IR
09/23/14 DB A.J. Davis Undisclosed IR
09/23/14 WR Andy Tanner Ankle IR
09/23/14 DB Ty Zimmerman Undisclosed IR
09/23/14 LB Khairi Fortt Undisclosed IR
09/04/14 NT John Jenkins Pectoral out indefinitely

Josh's Pick: Take New Orleans

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