After a shocking loss to one of this year's top rookie quarterbacks, the New Orleans Saints will try to bounce back against last year's rookie darling when they travel to face Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers in a key NFC South matchup. The Saints made Robert Griffin III look like a budding star in a 40-32 loss to Washington in their opener, while Carolina also got off to a disappointing start, falling 16-10 at Tampa Bay.
New Orleans will need to improve significantly on defense to neutralize Newton, who passed for 301 yards and a touchdown last week but also threw two interceptions. The Saints have won five of the past six meetings, including both games last season. They barely escaped with a 30-27 win in their last trip to Charlotte, scoring a touchdown with 50 seconds left to cap the comeback victory. Drew Brees lit up the Panthers' secondary for 389 yards and five touchdowns in last year's second meeting, a 45-17 New Orleans romp.
TV: 1 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Saints -2.5, O/U 51
ABOUT THE SAINTS (0-1): New Orleans' season without suspended head coach Sean Payton got off to a rough beginning, as the Saints were outplayed in all facets by Washington. Brees wound up with gaudy stats - 339 yards and three touchdowns - after leading a couple of late scoring drives against the Redskins, but it was anything but a rosy afternoon for the Saints' offense. Brees is likely to be without one of his top receivers in Devery Henderson, who suffered a concussion last week. Things were even worse for the defense, which allowed 464 total yards, including 320 passing yards for Griffin in his debut.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (0-1): Carolina's offense was too one-dimensional against Tampa Bay, managing just 10 yards on the ground. The Panthers hope to have running back Jonathan Stewart back after missing last week's game with a sprained right ankle, which would help. Carolina is 18-4 when Stewart has at least 14 carries. He has averaged 91.9 rushing yards per game and has 19 touchdowns in those 22 games. Carolina's pass defense was dominant against the Buccaneers, allowing just 128 yards, but the Panthers will be tested far more by Brees and the pass-happy Saints.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Brees has eight straight 300-yard passing games, the longest streak in NFL history, and his 44 consecutive games with a touchdown pass mark the second-longest streak in league history behind Johnny Unitas' 47.
2. Carolina WR Steve Smith has nine touchdown receptions against New Orleans, his most against any team. Smith had seven catches for 106 yards last week, extending his franchise-record streak of consecutive games with a reception to 76.
3. Newton's four yards rushing last week marked his lowest total as a pro. After rushing for 13 touchdowns in his first 12 games, he has just one rushing score in his past five contests.