Sunday sees a battle for first place in the NFC South when the New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers at the Superdome. Both teams come in with records of 3-5, a half-game ahead of the 3-6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons. The Saints are also getting healthy on the offensive side of the ball, perhaps bad news for the Carolina defensive unit.
Most of this season, the Saints have been unable to run the ball with any effectiveness. This has contributed heavily to slow starts while also reducing the productivity of their passing attack. Like New Orleans, however, the Panthers possess one of the worst rushing defenses in the league. We'll break down that aspect of Sunday's matchup now.
Panthers run defense rankings
- 133.4 yards per game (28th)
- 4.6 per carry (27th)
- 13 touchdowns (32nd)
- 29 tackles for loss
Carolina fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
a few weeks ago in large part because of the team's inability to slow the run. The Panthers gave up 291 rushing yards in a season-opening loss to the Bears, then 157 and 132 in the subsequent two outings. Since then, the Panthers have held four of five opponents to under 90 yards on the ground. In the one game where they didn't, a Week 7 loss to Tampa Bay, the Panthers were pounded down with 258 rushing yards.
Inside linebackers Devin Lloyd and Brian Okereke lead the Panthers in tackles with 54 and 49 stops, respectively. Each was added by Carolina this offseason and has excellent range. Lloyd (4) and Okereke (5) have a combined nine stops for loss, but Okereke will miss his second straight game with a foot injury. Outside linebacker Patrick Jones II is also having a strong year and could see some inside reps in the Panthers 3-4 scheme when they go to bigger fronts. Outside linebacker Trevis Gipson (3 tackles for loss) should also see a bigger role.
Edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Princely Umanmielen are far better pass rushers than run defenders, though Phillips has made some plays in opposing backfields. The Panthers have also struggled to make plays against the run with their up front defenders. Derrick Brown continues to be an imposing force and will be opposite the Saints right side, where Taliese Fuaga (knee) is out for Sunday. However, nose tackle Lee Hunter, along with ends Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III, need to be more consistent at the point of attack.
Panthers safeties Tre'von Moehrig and Nick Scott are each solid against the run. Both have good size, with either capable of playing at the line of scrimmage as an extra linebacker. The Panthers are thin and undersized at cornerback, with Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson out with injuries, further allowing opponents to have success against them with off-tackle runs.
Saints rushing stats
- 95.3 yards per game (26th)
- 3.8 per carry (27th)
- 7 touchdowns (16th)
New Orleans has managed 100 rushing yards in a game just three of eight times this season, getting held to fewer than 70 yards in four outings. The Saints are coming off 160 rushing yards against Cleveland, their second-highest output of the season. That was helped greatly by the return of running back Audric Estime and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Estime rushed for 72 yards, the highest total in 2026 by a Saints runner. More reinforcements could be on the way with Travis Etienne (hamstring) ready to come off injured reserve.
Etienne rushed for 128 yards and 4.3 per carry in three games before getting hurt. Better production is needed, but he'd add burst and explosiveness to the attack. Etienne and Estime should be a quality 1-2 punch. Alvin Kamara has proven that he's still a capable receiver, but has added little as a runner. Kamara has only 157 rushing yards so far with a lowly 3.3 per carry.
Quarterback Tyler Shough actually leads New Orleans with 162 rushing yards. While Shough's legs are an added dimension to the offense, a bonafide threat out of the backfield is desperately needed. Once Etienne returns, he'll be the lead back, but coach Kellen Moore clearly has trust in Estime. Expect them to share carries, with Kamara to be sprinkled in as a pass catcher or in certain situations as a change of pace.
Look for the Saints to focus their running game on the left side behind Banks and guard David Edwards. It's where they had most of their success against the Browns. The right side of an offensive line that has struggled most of the year will see different starters in three new positions against the Panthers.
Center Erik McCoy (biceps) and right tackle Taliese Fuaga (knee) are out, likely for at least a few weeks. Despite William Sherman playing well after McCoy was hurt against Cleveland, Kellen Moore will instead slide right guard Cesar Ruiz into the spot with rookie Jeremiah Wright stepping in at guard. Asim Richards or rookie Mason Murphy will play right tackle. Richards has more experience and can play either side, but struggled when he replaced Banks at left tackle. Expect the Saints to use an extra tight end, either Noah Fant or rookie Oscar Delp, as an extra blocker. Sherman will also be used in that role during short-yardage packages.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Saints run game looks to continue momentum against Panthers
