Saints

Will the Saints Play Any of Their Starters in Week 17?

Following their thrilling come-from-behind victory in Week 16, the New Orleans Saints guaranteed that the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC will go through the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, as they clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. With nothing to play for, aside from padding their stats, one has to wonder if the Saints will roll out their full roster for their final home regular-season game against the Carolina Panthers. With the Panthers also eliminated from playoff contention, they are just looking to finish the season on a strong note and end their seven-game losing streak.

SHARK BITES
  • The total has gone OVER in seven of Carolina’s last nine games vs New Orleans (avg. combined score: 53.11).
  • Carolina is 1-8 ATS in its last nine December road games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 13 of Carolina’s last 18 road games after consecutive home games.

Panthers vs Saints Game Center

WHAT AM I BETTING ON SUNDAY? SAINTS TO COVER

The Saints have two scenarios for playing out Sunday’s regular-season finale: they can rest their key starters and avoid the risk of injury, or they can roll out their top players in a game where they will lack the usual motivation as they have clinched everything they can possibly attain in the regular season.

The former seems like a good possibility since their MVP candidate, quarterback Drew Brees, is 38 years old, Alvin Kamara has had 74 more touches in his sophomore season than in his rookie campaign and the wide receiver corps has a fair drop-off after All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas.

If they do go to their reserves, we can expect to get a good look at Teddy Bridgewater, who was acquired from the New York Jets early in the season but has only attempted one pass all year. Bridgewater, however, still gives the Saints an advantage over who’s under center for the Panthers.

With Cam Newton shut down for the season due to a shoulder injury, the Panthers turned last week to Taylor Heinicke, an undrafted quarterback with his fourth team in four seasons. He completed 33 of 53 passes for 274 yards in Week 16, but threw just one touchdown against three interceptions. He left the game with an elbow injury, and his status for Week 17 is still up in the air. 

If he can’t go, undrafted rookie Kyle Allen, with all of four career pass attempts, would be next in line.

Regardless of the starter, he’s likely inferior to whomever New Orleans will send out, and the Panthers have far less depth in almost every other area, so even if they play their starters, it’s hard to see them being able to pull out the victory.

My money is on the Saints covering either way.

MCCAFFREY PROVING HIS SNUBBERS WRONG

While the NFC is loaded for running back talent, one of the biggest snubs for the Pro Bowl rosters was Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey.

The Panthers’ star sophomore leads the team with 1,080 rushing yards, as well as leading the team with 106 receptions and 845 receiving yards, while also pacing the roster with 13 total touchdowns. Among all NFL backs, he’s fourth in rushing yards, first in receptions and receiving yards and his 1,925 yards from scrimmage in the second-most in all of the NFL.  

Unfortunately for McCaffrey, he was not named to the Pro Bowl, as Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley also reside in the NFC. While he may not end up in Hawaii at season’s end, he’s certainly been one of the most dynamic talents in the league this season, and if Carolina wants any chance to end the year with a win, “CMac” will likely get an abundance of touches in Week 17 … especially with a second- (or third-) string quarterback.

SAINTS’ SECRET WEAPON KEPT UNDER WRAPS

Earlier in the season, New Orleans’ secret weapon was their Swiss Army knife, quarterback/wide receiver Taysom Hill.

The undrafted rookie was an interesting part of the Saints’ offensive game plan, receiving multiple touches from Weeks 3-12, while also acting as a decoy and adding a unique twist to the Saints offense.

While he was lauded for the wrinkle he added to New Orleans’ high-powered attack, he has received just three touches in the past four weeks combined. It may be coincidence that Hill’s decline in usage has come at the same time as New Orleans’ offense has hit a rut, or it may not be, but if the Saints want to have an extended run in the playoffs, they may want to look at adding Hill back into the fold.

With nothing on the line in Sunday’s matchup, this would be a good time to give Hill some more reps and see that he can still contribute in a number of different ways.

The total has gone OVER in seven of Carolina’s last nine games vs New Orleans (avg. combined score: 53.11). Carolina is 1-8 ATS in its last nine December road games.home The total has gone OVER in 13 of Carolina’s last 18 road games after consecutive home games.home
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