Bank of America Stadium | Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium | Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints are set to face off once again, with both teams seeking redemption after a challenging start to the season. The Panthers hold a 1-7 record, while the Saints are at 2-6. Despite changes since their Week 1 encounter, both teams have familiar quarterbacks in Bryce Young and Derek Carr.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn expressed optimism about learning from past mistakes: "We see a lot of the film, a lot of corrections on that film," he said. "There's a lot of stuff we can learn from game one."
Bryce Young's return as starting quarterback for the Panthers comes after Andy Dalton's stint due to Young's injury. Reflecting on the team's approach, Young stated, "It's a week-to-week league... We know it's going to take everything, but we also have confidence in ourselves."
Offensive coordinator Canales acknowledged room for improvement in pre-snap processes: "It's for myself being decisive about what personnel I want out there," he noted.
Defensively, A'Shawn Robinson and Jadeveon Clowney aim to enhance their performance against the Saints after only managing one sack in their previous meeting. Clowney remarked on his motivation: "That team beat us bad the first game... So go in there and try to make more plays."
The Panthers' defense is focusing on creating turnovers against Derek Carr, who has thrown four interceptions this season. Safety Demani Richardson highlighted this strategy: "Sometimes when Derek Carr gets pressured... he'll force throws sometimes."
The Panthers' receiving corps has undergone changes following Diontae Johnson's trade to Baltimore Ravens. This opens opportunities for rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. Legette expressed enthusiasm about stepping up: "Any chance I got... I just want to make the best out of my opportunity."
Changes are also seen on the offensive line with Brady Christensen moving from center to left tackle due to Ikem Ekwonu's absence. Canales praised Christensen's adaptability: "I think Brady has done such a great job of the opportunities."
As both teams prepare for Sunday’s matchup, they aim to leverage lessons learned from earlier games and improve upon their current standings.