The New Orleans Saints will travel to face the Carolina Panthers this Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.

The Panthers head into this matchup buoyed by momentum, standing 5-4, while the Saints are still trying to right the ship at 1-8. Here's a preview of what to look for on both sides in this Week 10 divisional showdown.

Carolina enters off a win, their confidence up. Meanwhile New Orleans dropped their most recent game in dominant fashion, signaling they have work to do in every phase. 

The team has clearly taken notice of that, trading away Rashid Shaheed and Trevor Penning at the trade deadline. But the work they still have to do this season starts on Sunday against an NFC South opponent.

On the Panthers’ side, watch for their offensive balance and defensive opportunism.

If their running game clicks and their defense forces turnovers, they have the components to control tempo and keep New Orleans on its heels.

For the Saints, key storylines revolve around establishing their offense and getting the defense off the field more consistently. With time of possession and execution weaknesses still glaring in their last loss, New Orleans must show improvement. 

For Carolina, their back-end of the defense and the run-game matchup could tilt things.

For New Orleans, the spotlight will be on whether their offense can sustain drives and limit mistakes. If the Saints can generate a few momentum swings early, they might escape what plagued them in their previous outing.

Historically, the New Orleans Saints have a slim edge over the Carolina Panthers, owning approximately a 32–29 record in their all-time series. In their most recent meeting, the Saints defeated the Panthers 47-10 on September 8, 2024.

The Saints-Panthers matchup has always carried weight within the NFC South, and this one feels no different.

Both teams are trying to build an identity halfway through the season, searching for consistency in a division still very much up for grabs. 

Regarding who will start at quarterback this Sunday for New Orleans, the unofficial depth chart still lists Tyler Shough as the first-team quarterback. The focus will be on protecting the rookie who's shown flashes of potential, scoring a touchdown in his first NFL start last week, but is still learning to read NFL defenses and adjust under pressure. He'll do so with a new left guard starting this Sunday, and down a top target in Shaheed.

Carolina, meanwhile, will look to rattle him early and feed off the home crowd’s energy. It’s a rivalry built on pride, so this game will be a heavy one.

The Panthers already have the edge heading in. The Saints must show up ready or risk another Sunday of watching their opponent dictate terms.