The red hot New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers, Sunday Jan 1st, as the Saints try for a eighth straight win. The Saints are one game (via the tiebreaker) behind San Francisco in the race for the NFC’s No. 2 playoff seed. NFL oddsmakers have the Saints as -9.5 point home favorites over the Panthers with the over/under set at 55 points. Be sure to get the latest Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints Spreads before making your 2011 NFL Picks Week 16.
Carolina (6-9, 3-4 V) handed the Bucs their ninth straight defeat, 48-16 at home, in Week 16. QB Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s rookie record for yards passing in a season and set a franchise record with a 91-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell. Newton threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a remarkable 49-yard run up the middle in which he outraced smaller defensive backs to the end zone. RB DeAngelo Williams scored on runs of 8 and 22 yards, his sixth and seventh of the season, and Jonathan Stewart ran for 88 yards and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Newton.
Although the Panthers won, Carolina wasn’t perfect in retrospect, but that’s perfectly fine by Rivera. “We had a lot of bright spots, but there still were some areas we could get better at,” Rivera said Monday. “We left some plays on the field, but that’s actually encouraging from a coach’s standpoint, because it means we can improve.” Rivera pointed out issues on third down, where the offense failed to convert on all six of its chances, while the defense allowed Tampa Bay to make on 5-of-11. He also said the team missed on a couple of tackles. Overall, however, he remained complimentary of his team’s latest showing, especially some individual efforts that didn’t truly show up in the box score. Legedu Naanee suffered a broken bone in his foot while fighting for the end zone but coming up just short in the final minute of the first half. Naanee won’t play in Sunday’s season finale at New Orleans. He ends his first season with the Panthers with 44 receptions for 467 yards and a touchdown.
New Orleans (12-3, 7-0 H) got a 45-16 home victory over the Atlanta Falcons, in Week 16. QB Drew Brees set the NFL record for yards passing in a season, breaking a mark that Dan Marino had held since 1984. Brees threw for 307 yards and four touchdown passes, the last a 9-yard strike to Darren Sproles that set the record with 2:51 to go. It was Brees’ final pass of the game and it gave him 5,087 yards passing — with one game still to play.
The Saints still have work to do. If they win tonight, they still have a shot at a playoff bye. If they lose tonight, they’ll need to win to clinch the NFC South. “Either way, New Orleans is going to have to win, so they’re going to have to play and play hard. We’re going to show up and play as hard as we can, too,” Rivera said. “You want their best shot. You want to give your best shot and you want to take their best shot. Offensively, the game matches up New Orleans’s No. 2-ranked offense (33.5ppg) against a Panthers defense that ranks No. 26 at 25.6ppg. The Saints passing attack has averaged 329.2 yards per game, more than the Panthers give up through the air (236ypg on average). In comparing defenses, the Panthers own the league’s No. 27-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 141.6 yards per game when on the road. New Orleans, on the other hand, rates No. 2 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Recent Trends to Consider:
Panthers are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings in New Orleans.
Panthers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Road team is 18-4 ATS in their last 22 meetings.
Saints are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Saints are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC.
Panthers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games in Week 17.
Panthers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Saints are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 home games.
Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints
When: Sunday, Jan 1st, 2011 1:00 PM EST
Pick: Saints -9.5
Point-Spreads recommends you check the Panthers vs Saints Spreads before the game kicks-off.
The Bottom Line: Both have great offenses, but which will have defense? I say Saints. NFL Point Spreads Expert Tyler Morgan went 2-1 ATS in Week 16, winning on underdogs Buffalo vs Denver to bring his NFL Predictions record to 73-39-4 for the season. Morgan, whose 2011 NFL Picks are hitting at 65% against the spread. Tyler’s moves have put thousands of dollars into his clients hands week after week. The good news for NFL Football bettors is – TYLER MORGAN’S PICKS ARE FREE – unlike most self proclaimed experts who charge big bucks to subscribers. Put a few Morgan Silver Dollars in your bank account by getting Tyler’s winning plays for FREE. Feel free to sign up to get NFL Picks Free!
