Prediction: Panthers at Saints

The Panthers travel to New Orleans with a lot on the line. Tampa Bay has dropped its second straight game to this same Saints team the Panthers face on Sunday and then unexpectedly lost again in the Thursday night matchup against the Falcons. Everything appears to be lining up for a playoff push, which is exactly why I don’t think this team gets it done.

A rookie quarterback getting the best of them in front of a loud home crowd will be too much for the Panthers to overcome. This is still a team that lacks the week-to-week consistency needed to be a true playoff contender. I believe the Panthers are about a year away, and when the moment gets big, they come up short.

Because of that, I like the Saints in this one, 28-23.