New Orleans Saints Grab Headlines on First Place Matchup vs. Panthers

The New Orleans Saints (3-5) take on the Carolina Panthers (3-5) on Sunday. The winner will be alone in first place in the NFC South.

Some would argue that the division is poor because of the bad records in it. In reality, all four teams have shown flashes of good football, but have been unable to put it all together consistently. The Panthers and Saints will have their shot to start on Sunday.

The winner of the game may not win the division, but they would certainly set themselves up for the best shot. Experts are looking at what each team will have at its disposal in the game.

The Associated Press previewed the matchup between the Saints and Panthers. Here's some of what they had to say about the decisive match in who will take sole possession of first place midway through the season.

"The Panthers, who won the division with an 8-9 record in 2025, could get a handful of starters back by Sunday. They opened 21-day practice windows this week for cornerback Mike Jackson, wide receiver Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks to return from injured reserve.

Meanwhile, outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, guard Damien Lewis and cornerback Will Lee III returned to practice after missing time with injuries. Versatile offensive lineman Brady Christensen also could be nearing a return from injured reserve after entering his second week in the 21-day practice window.

Similarly, Saints running back Travis Etienne, a top free-agent signing last spring who went on injured reserve after a Week 3 hamstring injury, began his 21-day practice window this week. If Etienne returns, he'd rejoin an offense that also hopes to see rookie receiver and first-round draft choice Jordyn Tyson take on an increased workload after his return from injured reserve in Week 9."

With both teams moving closer to full strength, we may see both the Panthers and the Saints' best version of themselves in the game.

The Saints are eager to get back star running back Travis Etienne, who the team made its primary offseason signing. With the money they allocated to the running back position, getting Etienne back and fixing the running game is perhaps what the team most looks forward to on offense.

If both Etienne and star rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson play well in the game, it's hard to see the Saints not winning the game. We'll keep an eye on what they might do in the pivotal early matchup.