Can the Saints reignite their run game, protect their quarterback, and show real growth against a surging Panthers team?
The New Orleans Saints head into Charlotte searching for answers.
After another uneven performance and three losses in their last four visits to Carolina, questions continue to swirl around a Saints' offense that hasn’t looked cohesive, a defense forced to shoulder too much of the load, and a team that can’t seem to find its rhythm.
With the Carolina Panthers fresh off a win over Green Bay, Saints fans are understandably uneasy heading into this matchup.
Here are the biggest questions surrounding New Orleans right now.
1. Can the Saints Rediscover Their Run Game Before It’s Too Late?
One of the very top of concerns is the ground game, or lack thereof.
Over the past five games, the Saints have averaged just 62 rushing yards (per StatMuse), a huge drop for a team that once prided itself on their balance and versatility.
The struggles of Alvin Kamara combined with inconsistent blocking and predictable playcalling have left the offense one-dimensional.
Fans are eager to see whether rookie Devin Neal can breathe life into a stagnant backfield and help the Saints control the tempo, which is something they’ve deeply failed to do in recent weeks.
2. Can the Offensive Line Hold Against Carolina’s Front?
Another pressing issue is how the offensive line will hold up against Carolina’s physical front.
The Panthers are coming off a game where their defense forced two turnovers and held the Packers to just one-for-five in the red zone, showing the kind of red-zone discipline that can frustrate an already struggling Saints unit.
There’s growing worry that New Orleans will once again lose the battle at the line of scrimmage, keeping Tyler Shough under constant pressure and limiting the time he has to find open receivers.
New Orleans’ offensive line has been inconsistent all season, struggling with penalties, missed assignments, and communication breakdowns that may leave Shough under siege.
When the protection crumbles, the entire offense stalls, and the run game disappears.
Quick passes turn desperate, and drives end before they start.
For Saints fans, the concern is less about Shough’s ability and more about whether he’ll have time to showcase it.
If the Panthers’ front dictates the pace early, New Orleans could find itself once again chasing the game instead of controlling it.
3. Are the Saints Showing Growth, or Just Spinning Their Wheels?
Finally, there’s the question of progress.
With the recent trades of Rashid Shaheed to the Seahawks and Trevor Penning to the Chargers, the franchise has sent a clear message that the current window is shifting.
Shaheed, a top speed-threat receiver now in his final season of contract eligibility, was traded for a 2026 fourth-and fifth-round pick.
Penning, a former first-round pick who struggled with injuries and position changes, was sent to one of the league’s top young O-line units for a 2027 sixth-rounder.
For Saints fans, these moves raise the question: Is this team really pivoting toward a younger core and more sustainable future, or are they simply clearing house without clear direction?
The answer will come in how quickly the young players step up, how quarterback Tyler Shough progresses, and whether the coaching staff can wring actual improvement (not just flashes), out of an offense that has lost too many starts, consistency and chances this season.
If the Saints can show progress, this looks like the right direction.
If not, the frustration of 1-8 and repeated losses in Charlotte will only grow louder.