The New Orleans Saints are looking for their second NFC South victory of the season, both against the Carolina Panthers. As the season is closing, the divisional games become even more important. The Panthers are the only team New Orleans has a chance to sweep. Because they can’t sweep Atlanta or Tampa Bay, New Orleans will need a better divisional record than both of those teams in case of a tiebreaker.
Going into this game there are many storylines you need to watch for as the Saints are looking to end their losing streak. These are the 5 most important storylines heading into Week 14:
1
Who's starting at quarterback?
Derek Carr is still in concussion protocol, but he’s at practice. Carr practicing and taking first team reps would suggest the Saints think he has a chance to play on Sunday. However, he still has to clear concussion protocol in order to play. Unlike his other injuries, Carr can’t just manage pain through the game. If he’s unable to play, Jameis Winston will be the starter.
2
Get-right game
It feels weird to take any win for granted with the way the Saints have played this year, but Carolina is arguably the worst team in the league. The Saints have struggled stringing together moments while the Panthers haven’t had many bright spots on the season. The Saints need to win this game convincingly. The Bears game felt similar then the Saints were stagnant offensively despite the defense forcing multiple turnovers.
3
Can the Panthers score 20 points?
The Saints have struggled to stop teams early in the game, and that has led to higher point totals allowed. Can the Carolina Panthers take advantage of that and score 20 points for the first time since October 15th? New Orleans haven’t struggled as much against struggling offenses like Chicago and New England, however, the struggles feel more prevalent than they did coming into those games.
4
Will anyone sack the quarterback?
20 may be the number to watch for points scored, but it’s also the number to watch for sacks. Each team has 19 sacks on the season which ranks second to last in the NFL. Neither team excels at getting to the quarterback. New Orleans is so strong in the back end that it’s hard to imagine Carolina having success if New Orleans can rush the passer.
5
Taysom Hill's health
Derek Carr isn’t the only player who lines up at quarterback dealing with injuries. Taysom Hill is dealing with a hand and foot injury that has kept him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. Hill’s versatility means his absence hurts you in many ways. Losing him means losing arguably your second most valuable offensive weapon.
