Saints X-Factors Against Panthers

Here are a few under the radar players that could be key if the Saints are to beat the Panthers in Week 14.

Underachieving NFC South rivals square off this afternoon when the 5-7 New Orleans Saints host the 1-11 Carolina Panthers. For the Saints, it is the first time this season they've played back-to-back home games. They've lost three straight contests and are just 6-7 at the Superdome in two years under coach Dennis Allen. 

Saints QB Derek Carr will play today despite sustaining rib injuries and his second concussion in less than a month in last week's home loss to Detroit. Injuries will force the team to be without WRs Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed, RB Kendre Miller, CB Marshon Lattimore, S Marcus Maye, DT Malcolm Roach, and DE Isaiah Foskey. Taysom Hill (foot), WR Chris Olave (flu), DE Cameron Jordan (ankle), and LB Pete Werner (shoulder) are considered game-time decisions.

This is the 59th meeting between the Saints and Panthers. New Orleans owns a 30-28 all-time edge in the series and is 15-13 against Carolina in the Superdome. The Saints took the last meeting between the clubs, a 20-17 Week 2 win in Carolina. 

New Orleans is clinging onto fading hopes for a division title in the abysmal NFC South, a hole that they've dug themselves. They are still very much mathematically alive, but need a winning streak and still require some outside help. Here are the under the radar players that could make a big difference for the injury-riddled Saints.

Foster Moreau, TE

New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (87) runs after a catch against Detroit Lions safety Tracy Walker III (21). Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY

Moreau hasn't been a big part of the passing attack, catching 13 of 14 targets for 143 yards and a touchdown. He's only caught multiple passes in four of his 10 games, with a season-highs of four receptions and 33 yards both coming in Week 6 against Houston. 

With a banged-up receiving corps possibly completely depleted if Olave can't go, the Saints may need to rely on their tight ends for passing production. Juwan Johnson is having a miserable season, catching just 18 of 32 targets for 142 yards. Johnson has also dropped five passes in the last two games, possibly decreasing confidence in him.

Jimmy Graham has seen very limited action and is best served in the red zone or other specific packages. Taysom Hill, if he's able to play, will also be used heavily out of the backfield. 

New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau (87) makes a catch against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Moreau is a quality in-line tight end who is also a factor as a blocker on off-tackle runs with Alvin Kamara. He's not the downfield threat that Johnson, Hill, or Graham are. However, he'd proven to be an effective short and intermediate receiver with 63 catches and 793 yards over his last two years with the Raiders and Derek Carr. 

The Saints will certainly want to establish the run against a Carolina defense that ranks 23rd in that category. Alvin Kamara should also be heavily involved for a passing attack that should revolve around him and Olave. However, Carr needs other receiving threats and the wideout group of A.T. Perry, Lynn Bowden, Marquez Callaway, and Keith Kirkwood haven't been able to provide it.

New Orleans hasn't attacked the middle of field often enough this season. They would be wise to do so this week, especially to slow Panthers inside blitzes from LBs Frankie Luvu, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and their safeties. Those blitzes leave opportunities in the middle of the field where Moreau can take advantage for key gains. 

Saints Defensive Tackles 

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) throws a pass under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (90). Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports

Only one team has fewer than the 18 sacks the Saints have managed in 12 games. New Orleans defensive tackles, while an improved group from a year ago, have been responsible for only 3.5 of those sacks and 11 QB hits. They've managed only eight sacks as a team over the last seven games. Over that same span, the Saints have allowed an average of 135.4 yards on the ground. 

To be fair, the majority of the rushing yards New Orleans has surrendered in their defensive slump has come on the outside and off-tackle plays. However, the lack of pressure from the entire front four has been appalling. 

First-round rookie DT Bryan Bresee got off to a tremendous start with 1.5 sacks, four QB hits, and three tackles for loss in his first four games. Despite solid run defense plus eight pressures and six tipped passes on the year, Bresee has no sacks or QB hits and just one stop for a loss in the last eight games. 

Nathan Shepherd, one of two free-agent DT additions in the offseason, has definitely been an underrated performer. Shepherd has been disruptive against the run and has four sacks and eight pressures. The other free agent at tackle, Khalen Saunders, has done little defensively. That makes the loss of Roach, who was having a good year, loom even larger. 

Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) is pressured by New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (93). Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina QB Bryce Young has been sacked 44 times for an offense that also ranks just 26th on the ground. It's vital that the Saints stuff RBs Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders to prevent Carolina from establishing balance. Most of the Panthers offensive line issues have been on the inside, where they're also playing two backups in place of injured starters.

New Orleans sacked Young four times and recorded 12 pressures in their Week 2 meeting. They also held Sanders and Hubbard to just 59 yards rushing and 3.7 per carry. In that game, Shepherd had a sack as he and Bresee combined to have three pressures and three tackles for loss.

Ends Carl Granderson and Cam Jordan combined for a sack and seven pressures in that win. However, Jordan is hobbled and Granderson has been in a slump as they face a pair of quality Carolina tackles. The defensive key for this game could come from interior disruption. Both to stall the Carolina run game and forcing Young to hurry throws into a playmaking New Orleans secondary.