Saints Stifling Pass Defense Looks to Silence Panthers Aerial Attack

New Orleans has been playing defense at an elite level for the last eight weeks. They may need another such outing against division rival Carolina to finish the year strong.

Author:
Bob Rose
Publish date:
Jan 6, 2023 1:42 PM EST

In this story:

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers square off in the Caesars Superdome on Sunday to end the season for each team. Both the 7-9 Saints and 6-10 Panthers were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend.

New Orleans would have provided a scary postseason matchup for opponents because of their outstanding defense. The Saints rank 10th in total defense, allowing just under 322 yards per game. Those numbers have been even better over the last half of the year, with a stifling Saints defense ranking at the top of the league in several categories.

They'll take on a Carolina offense that looks much different from the one they faced in Week 3, a 22-14 Panthers win. Gone are HC Matt Rhule, RB Christian McCaffrey, QB Baker Mayfield, and WR Robbie Anderson. The Panthers have gone 5-6 under interim coach Steve Wilks down the stretch, with an offensive emphasis on running the football.

Carolina comes in averaging 312.7 yards of total offense per game to rank 27th in the league.

The Panthers passing game, while not a strength, is coming off two of their three most productive games of the year. Will they provide a threat against a New Orleans defense that's been on a roll?

Saints Pass Defense

- 20.9 points per game (13th)

- 193.9 passing yards/game (3rd)

- 17 touchdown passes (3rd)

- 5 interceptions (31st)

- 60.9% completion percentage

- 46 sacks/85 QB hits

- 40.6% 3rd Down Percentage (22nd)

Jan 2, 2022; New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata (93) pressures Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Only two quarterbacks have thrown for over 200 net yards against the Saints in the last 10 games. For the year, New Orleans has allowed just one 300-yard passer and three more of over 270.

The Saints' 46 sacks are the fifth-most in the NFL, with all but two of those occurring in the last 13 games. Even the defensive tackles, dormant most of the year, have been more disruptive over their last six weeks. David Onyemata (4 sacks/10 QB hits) and Kentavius Street (3.5 sacks/8 hits) are explosive interior rushers. Shy Tuttle and Malcolm Roach, a combined 3 sacks and five hits, are more run stoppers who tie up blockers.

New Orleans defensive ends come at opposing quarterbacks with an impressive wave of talent and depth. Cameron Jordan is finishing his 12th season strong. He leads the team with 8.5 and 17 pressures, with a season-high three sacks against the Eagles last week. The 33-year-old Jordan still commands double-team blocking but still has the ability to consistently beat it.

New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson (96) pressures Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY

Fourth-year DE Carl Granderson has developed into a solid complement to Jordan. Granderson has a career-high 5.5 sacks and 13 pressures, with much of that production coming in the last six games. His development has cut drastically into the playing time of Marcus Davenport, who has disruptive potential (14 pressures), but poor finishing ability (half sack, 2 tackles for loss). Tanoh Kpassagnon and Payton Turner can provide solid depth along the edge.

New Orleans linebackers have created constant havoc for offenses all season. Pete Werner looked on his way to a Pro Bowl year before injuries caused him to miss five of six games. In his absence, Kaden Elliss emerged from relative obscurity.

Elliss has 7 sacks, six coming in the last eight games, along with 10 QB hits, and seven tackles for loss among his 76 total stops. The fourth-year pro hasn't just been disruptive to opposing backfields. He's also vastly improved his coverage skills.

Demario Davis continues to be among the league's best all-around defenders. A standout against the run, Davis has six straight seasons of 100+ tackles, including 101 and nine for loss this season. He's also recorded a career-high 6.5 sacks to go along with 10 pressures and six passes broken up.

The Saints secondary has dealt with injuries all season. Safety Marcus Maye has been in and out of the lineup all season and may miss his seventh game on Sunday with a shoulder injury. Fellow safeties P.J. Williams and Justin Evans have also missed time, along with CB Paulson Adebo. The most severe loss was to Pro Bowl CB Marshon Lattimore, who missed 10 games with rib and abdominal injuries.

Dec. 30, 2018; Saints corner Marshon Lattimore breaks up a pass to Panthers receiver DJ Moore. Credit: © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network

Lattimore returned against the Eagles and had a huge impact. He gave up some catches, but broke up two throws and recorded the team’s fifth interception of the year and returned it for the game-clinching touchdown. In six games played, Lattimore has given up just 58% completion rate when targeted. He's capable of shutting down an opponent’s best receiver one-on-one, a crucial dimension for the defense.

In Lattimore's absence, rookie second-round choice Alontae Taylor blossomed into a potential star. A physical defender with fluid coverage skills, Taylor leads the team with 11 passes broken up and has allowed only 48% completion percentage when targeted.

Oddly, Taylor didn't play a defensive snap against Philadelphia. With Adebo (hamstring) out this week, Lattimore and Taylor will be the cornerback duo. Veteran Bradley Roby will be the third corner and take slot duties. Tyrann Mathieu will be joined at safety by Williams and Daniel Sorensen if Maye can't go.

Panthers Passing Attack

- 21.1 points per game (18th)

- 185.3 passing yards/game (28th)

- 16 touchdowns (16th)

- 11 interceptions (12th)

- 59.3% completion percentage

- 34 sacks

- 29.8% 3rd Down Percentage (31st)

Jan 2, 2022; Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks to throw against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Five-year veteran Sam Darnold is the third on Carolina's merry-go-round at quarterback this season. In five starts, Darnold has completed over 61% of his throws for an average of 220 yards/game with 7 touchdowns and just 1 interception.

The third overall selection in the 2018 Draft, Darnold is a 59% career passer with 61 touchdowns and 53 interceptions. Carolina is 3-2 with him at the helm and both losses have been by one score.

The Panthers don't have a lot of weapons after trading McCaffrey and Anderson. However, Darnold has one of the league's most underrated wideouts in D.J. Moore. The fifth-year wideout leads the Panthers in receiving by a wide margin, catching 62 of 114 targets for 878 yards and seven touchdowns. The next closest is the since-traded McCaffrey, who had 33 receptions for 277 yards in six games with the team.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver DJ Moore (2) runs after a catch against the New Orleans Saints. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Former LSU WR Terrace Marshall has shown some growth. He has 26 catches for 467 yards. Speedy Laviska Shenault also has 26 receptions, resulting in 264 yards and including a 67-yard score against the Saints in Week 3. Big-bodied WR Shi Smith (22-296 yards) rounds out the receiving corps around Moore that has shown some potential.

Ian Thomas and Tommy Tremble make up the tight end spot. Thomas has 21 catches for 197 yards. He's had underwhelming production throughout his career but provides an athletic mismatch for defenses. Tremble, who has 18 receptions for 172 yards and three scores, is the better blocker and a red-zone threat.

Without McCaffrey, the Panthers backs haven't offered much as pass catchers. D'Onta Foreman, Chuba Hubbard, and Raheem Blackshear have combined 29 receptions for 290 yards. Hubbard and Blackshear share most third down duties in passing situations.

Rookie first-round pick LT Ikem Ekwonu has keyed an improved Panthers offensive line. Former first-rounder Brady Christensen has effectively kicked inside to LG, while veteran RG Austin Corbett is a top-tier starter. Taylor Moton is a key holdover at RT.

What to Expect

New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) sacks Carolina Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold (14). Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY

Darnold has played against the Saints twice as Carolina's starter, both last season. In the first, he riddled the New Orleans defense for 305 yards and two scores in a 26-7 upset. The Saints extracted a measure of revenge in the rematch when they sacked Darnold seven times, intercepted him once, and held him to just 132 yards in an 18-10 win.

New Orleans will need that kind of pressure on Darnold, who tends to make critical mistakes under duress, to finish the year strong. Granderson, Jordan, and the Saints defensive ends need a big outing against Ekwonu and Moton on the outside.

Jordan has 14 sacks in 24 career games against the Panthers, including 3.5 in the second meeting against Carolina last season. The defensive tackles could also have opportunities if the Panthers move extra blockers to the edge.

Look for New Orleans to be more aggressive with linebackers Davis, Elliss, and Werner without the threat of McCaffrey out of the backfield. The Saints must also stuff Carolina's running game to put the onus on Darnold and pass protection for success.

Jan 3, 2021; New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) intercepts a pass against the Carolina Panthers. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Saints corners must also contend with D.J. Moore and prevent the other Panthers receivers from making plays. Moore was held to just one reception when these teams last met, but has five games of over 75 yards and five scores in seven other meetings against New Orleans.

Lattimore and Taylor make a potentially terrific duo of corners. They're capable of shutting down any receiver, allowing the Saints to be much more aggressive with their pass rush.

New Orleans has been elite defensively over the last half of the year. They'll need another such performance against their division rival to close the year with an impressive four-game winning streak.