Scoring Plays:
1Q - NO - Drew Brees to Jared Cook 18 yd TD pass (PAT Good) | NO 7, CAR 0
1Q - CAR - Rodney Smith 1 yd TD rush (PAT Good) | NO 7, CAR 7
End of Quarter Score - New Orleans Saints 7, Carolina Panthers 7
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2Q - NO - Drew Brees to Emmanuel Sanders 8 yd TD pass (PAT No Good - Wide Left) | NO 13, CAR 7
2Q - NO - Wil Lutz 33 yd FG GOOD | NO 16, CAR 7
End of Quarter Score - New Orleans Saints 16, Carolina Panthers 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3Q - NO - Wil Lutz 48 yd FG GOOD | NO 19, CAR 7
3Q - NO - Taysom Hill 3 yd TD rush (PAT Good) | NO 26, CAR 7
End of Quarter Score - New Orleans Saints 26, Carolina Panthers 7
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4Q - NO - Drew Brees to Austin Carr 11 yd TD pass (PAT Good) | NO 33, CAR 7
Final Score - New Orleans Saints 33, Carolina Panthers 7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission was accomplished last week, putting away the team's 4th straight NFC South Division Championship on Christmas Day, a first in the 18 year history of the division. More potential history awaits as the Saints can sweep the division with a 6-0 record, which would also be a first in the division's history.

Of course, the Saints have their eyes on an even bigger prize today, hoping a 6th win against a South foe will combine with the other necessary results to give the Saints home field throughout the playoffs as well as next week off. But a loss today could be just as devastating as a win is rewarding. A win guarantees the Saints at worst the 2 seed, meaning at least 2 home games in the playoffs. A loss could drop the Saints to the 3 seed, meaning potentially only 1 postseason home game and no chance of the bye or home field advantage.

But today's task was made a bit more difficult yesterday as the Saints lost their entire running back corps for today's game thanks to Alvin Kamara testing positive for COVID-19 on Friday and the others considered a close contact to him. Former running back turned wide receiver Ty Montgomery will have to fill in back in his old position.

As for the Panther team we're playing today, while they are packing their bags and preparing for spring break after having lost 8 of their last 10, they are coming off of a rather interesting victory last week, a 20-13 win at Washington that kept the Football Team from clinching the NFC East and forced the not-the-Redskins into a win-or-go-home game tonight.

The Panther D is very middle of the road, ranking 18th in yards allowed, 16th against the rush, & 17th against the pass, so hopefully that leaves a lot of room for the Saints 9th-ranked offense to work even without a true running back available.

Teddy Bridgewater will lead the 20th ranked Panther offense against the Saints 3rd ranked defense likely without his top 2 running backs either, but will be looking for new holes in the Saints D now that Kwon Alexander has been lost for the season. Will the Saints be able to hold the Panthers down and make them think about the offseason early or will the loss of the running backs be too much to overcome?

The last time these 2 teams played, back on October 25th in week 7, a Marcus Davenport 8 yard sack of Bridgewater proved to be the key play as Joey Slye's game-tying 65 yard field goal immediately after fell just a yard short and the Saints held on for a 27-24 win over the Panthers. Drew Brees threw for 2 TDs and did the up & over for another in the win. Bridgewater found DJ Moore 4 times, 2 of which for TDs to keep it close.

LET'S DEFANG THE KITTIES AND HEAD INTO THE PLAYOFFS ON A HIGH NOTE!!!

Injury Report: (Players only currently on the 53-man roster who have a game designation from the Friday injury report listed here)
NO- (None of the players on Injured Reserve or Reserve/COVID-19 list will appear here)
Josh Hill (Hand) OUT
Marcus Williams (Ankle) OUT

CAR-
Christian McCaffrey (Thigh) DOUBTFUL
Brian Burns (Shoulder) DOUBTFUL
Mike Davis (Ankle) DOUBTFUL
Russell Okung (Calf) DOUBTFUL
Efe Obada (Shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
Yetur Gross-Matos (Shoulder) QUESTIONABLE
Austin Larkin (Shoulder) QUESTIONABLE

Weather: Clouds from Saturday's rains in Charlotte should be moving out and it should be a nice day for football with gametime temps in the mid-50s and falling, partly cloudy skies and clearing, and winds from the NNW between 5-10 mph.

Uniforms: UPDATE: For the 1st time since week 17 of the 2017 season, it'll be white jerseys & GOLD pants today to close out the season

Saints Playoff Clinching Scenarios:
The New Orleans Saints have clinched the NFC South Division Championship

The New Orleans Saints can clinch a first-round bye & home field advantage throughout the playoffs with:
1) Saints Win + Packers Loss + Seahawks Win

Relevant Games:
Green Bay Packers 35 @ Chicago Bears 16 | Final
Seattle Seahawks 26 @ San Francisco 49ers 23 | Final

Current Standings:
NFC South:
Saints 11-4
Buccaneers 10-5
Panthers 5-10
Falcons 4-11

Betting Line: Saints (-6) O/U 46.5

Want to listen to Zach Strief, Deuce McAllister, & Steve Geller instead of Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, & Lindsey Czarniak?
Find your local Saints Radio Network affiliate at this link

Today's Officials: (all officiating crews are subject to change)
Referee: #35 John Hussey

Umpire: #115 Tony Michalek
Down Judge: #74 Derick Bowers
Line Judge: #16 Kevin Codey
Field Judge: #21 Jeff Lamberth
Side Judge: #116 Mike Weatherford
Back Judge: #17 Steve Patrick
Replay Official: TBA
Replay Assistant: TBA
**In a late change, John Hussey was moved from MIN/DET to CAR/NO to replace Clay Martin, who was hospitalized with COVID-19. The Saints had Hussey earlier this season in Tampa Bay against the Bucs. No idea if his whole crew came with him or it's just him & Martin's crew. We wish Clay Martin a quick & full recovery.**

Inactive Lists:
NO-
S Marcus Williams
WR Jake Kumerow
C Will Clapp
OL Derrick Kelly
TE Josh Hill
DL Malcolm Roach

CAR-
QB Will Grier
RB Christian McCaffrey
RB Mike Davis
LT Russell Okung
DE Brian Burns
DT Woodrow Hamilton
DB Natrell Jamerson

This post was edited on 1/4/21 at 9:59 am