Two teams trying to bounce back from heart-breaking losses meet on Thursday night as the New Orleans Saints visit the Carolina Panthers on NBC and NFL Network. The Saints suffered one of the most crushing losses in NFL history as they had an extra point blocked and returned for two points as they fell 25-23 to Denver last week while the Panthers blew a 17-point lead and lost to Kansas City. Let’s look at the game and Thursday Night NFL picks.
The Saints visit the Panthers on Thursday, November 17th with a start time of 8:30 pm Eastern on NBC and NFL Network.
NFL Odds
Carolina Panthers -3.5, total 51.5
Saints vs. Panthers
The Saints have to try and get past what happened to them last week in the loss to Denver. They were going for an extra point that would have put them ahead with just over a minute to go but instead lost as they had the point blocked and then returned for two points. “It’s the strangest one I’ve been a part of,” Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks said, “Crazy, I haven’t been part of anything like this, so it definitely is the craziest one.”
New Orleans head coach Sean Payton can’t afford to have his team dwell on the loss with the game at Carolina coming up so fast. “Look, I’ll be honest with you,” Payton said. “It’s 12:25 in the afternoon here on Monday and we’re well into the Carolina game, and well past the game we just played. I know that you guys are wanting to ask questions about the game we just played, but that’s where we’re at.”
The Panthers have a similar issue as they try and put the loss to Kansas City behind them. “What we have done is put our backs completely against the wall.” head coach Ron Rivera said, “There is no room for error now. What we have to do is we have to go forward. I have to make sure we do that.”
This week’s game for Carolina is critical as they could move within two games of Atlanta with a win. “There’s no need to panic. I think we have a couple key losses from some teams, so that’s our optimism,” quarterback Cam Newton said. “When you look at it, whatever our record is, it’s not good. But yet we have a locker room full of winners and a locker room full of guys that are full of fight still, and I know I am willing to go to battle with those guys. I can’t wait until Thursday.”
NFL Odds
The Saints are scoring 29 points per game and allowing 29 points per contest. The Panthers are scoring about 25 points per contest and allowing 25 points per game. These teams met earlier this season with the Panthers pulling out a 41-38 win at New Orleans. The last meeting in Carolina between the teams was a 27-22 win for the Panthers. The Panthers have won four of the last six overall with three of the last four going over.
Thursday Night NFL Picks
Neither of these teams has played much defense this season so I will take this game over the total.
