Panthers are running out of room for error going into Saints matchup with playoff hopes already hanging in the balance in Week 10
The Carolina Panthers have one logical path to the playoffs after 3-5 start and those hopes could take a catastrophic hit if they lose to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
After a three game-losing streak that has dropped the Carolina Panthers to 3-5 on the season, the Panthers are running out of room for error going into a pivotal road game this weekend against a divisional opponent in the New Orleans Saints.
“Exciting times,” head coach Dave Canales said on Wednesday. “Division football right here. Championship opportunity right in front of us. Exactly what we need to focus the team getting back on the grass today. Excited to go down to New Orleans for this matchup.”
It’s going to be a tough one for Carolina. New Orleans hasn’t been kind to the Panthers recently after dropping each of their last three road games against the Saints. In fact, under Canales, the Panthers are 1-3 against the division rivals.
“Really it’s about finish,” Canales explained. “The game that we had there (last season) there were some moments that got away from us, big plays, and a couple of really nice drives by Tyler Shough. I thought Kellen (Moore) called a really good game when we were playing in their place. Again, when I look back at it, we know in these matchups with the Bucs, with the Saints, with the Falcons we know each other so well. We’re aware of the different tendencies and it’s going to come down to execution, making sure we’re in the right spots, and trying to take their A-game away from them.”
Executing in critical moments is something the Panthers have struggled with this season, especially during this three-game losing streak. This has to be the week the Panthers turn things around. It’s hard to call a Week 10 game a “must-win” situation in the NFL, but the numbers point toward it being exactly that for Carolina on Sunday.
Playoff hopes are on the line already for the Carolina Panthers going down to New Orleans
As things currently stand, the Panthers still lead the NFC South with a 3-5 record. Carolina is the only team in the NFL leading their respective division with a losing record after the first nine weeks of the season. Call it what you want, the Panthers are fortunate to be in this situation, but it also makes each game way more critical.
“NFL is the NFL,” quarterback Bryce Young explained. “Obviously I understand records but that’s not up for me to comment or care (about). We want to go 1-0 this week. That’s all that matters. That’s our focus.”
To put things into perspective on how important this game is on Sunday, the Panthers currently have a 28 percent chance to make the playoffs entering this game with the only possibility being to win the NFC South, according to the A to Z Sports NFL Playoff Predictor.
A win on Sunday would bump that percentage up to a 42 percent chance. A loss would drop the Panthers down to a 16 percent chance.
That’s a 26 percent swing on one game alone. That shows how critical of a matchup this is for the Panthers going into New Orleans. The Panthers have to find a way to execute and come home with a win, if not, the playoff hopes will look a lot slimmer for this squad.
