Panthers at Saints
Nothing but pride will be on the line when the visiting Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints wrap up their disappointing seasons Sunday afternoon. The Panthers have won three straight, but they made their push too late to get back into the postseason picture. A 2-8 start was too much to overcome, but the Panthers can surpass last season's win total with a victory and post their best record since going 8-8 in 2009.
New Orleans worked its way back into playoff contention after an 0-4 start, but a three-game losing streak in November and December did in its postseason hopes. The Saints have won two straight, including a 34-31 overtime win at Dallas last week. The Saints have won five of the past seven meetings but dropped a 35-27 decision at Carolina in Week 2.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Saints -5, O/U 54
ABOUT PANTHERS (6-9): Carolina's defense has been solid for most of the season and spectacular the past two weeks in wins at San Diego and at home against Oakland. The offense has been less consistent but has come around in the second half of the season. Quarterback Cam Newton's sophomore slump subsided in time for him to put up solid numbers (3,621 pass yards, 19 pass TDs; 707 rush yards, 8 rush TDs), and he has passed for 11 touchdowns and just one interception in the past six games.
ABOUT SAINTS (7-8): New Orleans' offense hasn't lost a step without suspended head coach Sean Payton, ranking third in total yards and scoring, but the defense has been disastrous. Quarterback Drew Brees leads the NFL with 4,781 passing yards and has 39 touchdowns against 18 interceptions, and the Saints average 408.9 total yards - third-most in the league. The defense has been roughed up for 27.3 points and 434.1 yards per game, and that includes a shutout of Tampa Bay two weeks ago.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Brees needs 219 passing yards to become the first player in NFL history with three 5,000-yard seasons.
2. Newton is the only player in NFL history with 30 or more passing touchdowns (40) and 20 or more rushing touchdowns (22) in his first two seasons.
3. Panthers RB DeAngelo Williams has rushed for 650 yards and five touchdowns in his past six games against the Saints.