NFL Week 17: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints No. 1 offense tries to spoil the playoff hopes for the Carolina Panthers in a tough rivalry game.

Panthers vs. Saints Overview:
The Carolina Panthers are destined for the NFL playoffs, but which seed will be determined in the final game of the season when they meet their NFC South rival New Orleans Saints. Injuries have derailed the New Orleans Saints in 2008, but they still boast the No. 1 offense in the NFL. With nothing to lose, there is very little that would please New Orleans Saints fans more than a win that sends the Carolina Panthers to the Wild Card round. Fans with Carolina Panthers tickets will be cheering for their team to pull out a win and secure the first-round bye.

Carolina Panthers Offense:
Running-back tandems are all the rage in the NFL, and no duo is hotter than DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. DeAngelo Williams leads the NFL in touchdowns and wows fans with Carolina Panthers tickets with his agility and speed. Jonathan Stewart is a hammer but has plenty of breakaway speed as well. QB Jake Delhomme has been grateful for the strong rushing attack and uses play action off of it to hit his receivers. WR Steve Smith is the ultimate deep threat while longtime veteran running buddy WR Mushin Muhammad plays the possession-receiver role.

Carolina Panthers Defense:
Defensive end Julius Peppers has garnered all the attention for years, but young MLB Jon Beason is quickly becoming a favorite of fans with Carolina Panthers tickets. The pair are both physical specimens and are going to the Pro Bowl. The intense pass rushing of Julius Peppers makes the whole defense run while Jon Beason in the middle can control the entire game. Carolina Panthers tickets will feature DEs Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson, both of whom are excellent pass rushers as well. CB Chris Gamble is the elite player in the secondary, but safeties Charles Godfrey and Chris Harris are developing nicely.

New Orleans Saints Offense:
Quarterback Drew Brees sits at the center of the best offense in the NFL and is close to 5,000 yards passing. WRs Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Lance Moore cannot be covered and the addition of TEs Jeremy Shockey and Billy Miller makes for a rolling offensive machine. RB Pierre Thomas has become a stable force behind Drew Brees and is a consistent runner. RB Deuce McAllister still has plenty left in the tank, and his powerful style slows down defenses. The New Orleans Saints offensive line specializes in pass protection.

New Orleans Saints Defense:
The New Orleans Saints defense is short DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith but still has plenty of team speed. Rookie DT Sedrick Ellis is a big cornerstone to build the defense around, and he has evolved into a good pass rusher from the middle. MLB Jonathan Vilma is a rare athlete and flies around the field like Jon Beason. DE Bobby McCray is a good pass rusher, and his play has been invaluable coming off the bench. CBs Randal Gay and Jason David are adjusting to the man-coverage schemes but seem to be playing at a higher level.

Carolina Panthers Game Plan:
The New Orleans Saints defense is a poor unit all around and is weakest to the biggest strengths of the Carolina Panthers. In their first meeting, the Carolina Panthers did what they do best, pound the football and get the big play off of play action. This will continue in this Week 17 match up and favors the Carolina Panthers even more thanks to the numerous injuries and suspensions on the New Orleans Saints defense. Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will cram the football down the throats of the defense and help spring WR Steve Smith deep on the play fake.

Stopping Drew Brees and his myriad of weapons is always No. 1 on the list against the New Orleans Saints, and the Carolina Panthers’ defense will be playing pass the whole way. DE Julius Peppers must show why his jersey is a favorite of fans with Carolina Panthers tickets and continue the famous pass rush that got him to the Pro Bowl. DE Tyler Brayton and OLB Thomas Davis will also need to step up their pass-rushing attack. MLB Jon Beason will be asked to use his mobility to destroy any TEs or WRs that come over the middle. Fans with Carolina Panthers tickets know that Chris Gamble must shutout one WR completely.

New Orleans Saints Game Plan:
The New Orleans Saints running game has been anemic thanks to various injuries, but it must step up if the Saints are to win this NFC South game. RB Pierre Thomas could be a worthy successor to Deuce McAllister, and he must get a steady groove going on the ground. A tough running game will keep the pass rush at bay long enough for Drew Brees to pick apart the secondary. TEs Jeremy Shockey and Billy Miller have to work the middle of the field to draw off MLB Jon Beason. Drew Brees will try and avoid CB Chris Gamble at all costs, even if he is on Marques Colston.

Pressuring Jake Delhomme is a key to protect the slow secondary from WR Steve Smith, but the running attack is another major concern. In either facet of the game, DT Sedrick Ellis must make plays in the middle. This can mean occupying blockers on run plays or getting penetration on passing plays. MLB Jonathan Vilma has to be all over the field, and his main responsibility will be roping in a dangerous DeAngelo Williams. Whatever scheme they run, Steve Smith needs to be doubled teamed on every play to prevent the big bomb.

Panthers vs. Saints Outlook:
The Carolina Panthers need a victory to make their shot at the Super Bowl much easier. The overtime loss to the New York Giants in Week 16 was tough for fans with Carolina Panthers tickets to swallow, but they cannot live in the past. One win over the injured New Orleans Saints gives the Carolina Panthers the NFC South Championship. The New Orleans Saints are hungry for revenge, however, and their offense gives them a shot to defeat any opponent in the NFL. The Louisiana Superdome is a great home-field advantage.

Controlling one’s destiny is a tricky thing, but the game is the Carolina Panthers’ to lose. Their defense is strong, but their offense is tailor made to exploit every weakness the New Orleans Saints have. A win would be big in shaping the postseason, and this is the biggest game of the year for the Carolina Panthers, and fans with Carolina Panthers tickets know this. With their stiff defense and unforgiving rushing attack, fans with Carolina Panthers tickets should see the first-round bye dropped at their feet with a win. Order premium Carolina Panthers tickets from OnlineTickets.com today!