This matchup features a pair of NFC South division rivals when the New Orleans Saints travel to take on the Carolina Panthers on Monday night in week 2 of the NFL season. New Orleans enters this game with a record of 1-0 following a 16-15 win at home against the Tennessee Titans while the Carolina Panthers lost on the road against the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 10-24. 

Will the Saints improve to 2-0 this season or will the Panthers get the win at home? Let’s take a look at how these teams fared in week 1.

The New Orleans Saints enter this game with a record of 1-0 following a 16-15 win at home against the Tennessee Titans by a score of 16-15 while failing to cover the 3-point spread as a home favorite in week 1 of the NFL season. New Orleans scored 16 points while compiling 351 total yards offensively which included 305 passing yards and 69 rushing yards while allowing 15 points and 285 total yards defensively which included 198 passing yards and 104 rushing yards. 

Derek Carr led the team in passing, completing 23 of 33 attempts for 305 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for four yards. Jamaal Williams led the team in rushing with 18 carries for 45 yards while adding two receptions for seven yards. Chris Olave led the team in receiving, catching eight of ten targets for 112 yards.

Carolina enters this game with a record of 0-1 following a 10-24 loss on the road against the Atlanta Falcons while failing to cover the 3.5-point spread as a road underdog in week 1 of the NFL season. The Panthers scored 10 points while compiling 281 total yards offensively which included 146 passing yards and 154 rushing yards while allowing 24 points and 221 total yards defensively which included 115 passing yards and 130 rushing yards. 

Bryce Young led the team in passing, completing 20 of 38 attempts for 146 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions while adding 17 rushing yards. Miles Sanders led the team in rushing with 18 carries for 72 yards while adding four receptions for 26 yards. Hayden Hurst led the team in receiving, catching five of seven targets for 41 yards and a touchdown.

BookMaker has the New Orleans Saints listed as 3-point favorites on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Monday night in week 2 of the NFL season. New Orleans has won six of the last ten while Carolina has won two of the last three games in the series while going 7-3 ATS in the last ten and 2-1 ATS in the last three matchups.

Carolina is a better team than how they performed in week 2 and I look for them to bounce back on Monday night against New Orleans. The Panthers have been the better team most recently in the series, winning two of the last three games, and have been the better team at covering the spread going 7-3 ATS in the last ten and 2-1 ATS in the last three matchups in the series. As a result, I am taking the Carolina Panthers +3 at home against the New Orleans Saints in week 2 of the NFL season.