STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

NFL Team Report - New Orleans Saints</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --WR Michael Thomas leads the NFL with 120 pass receptions and his 316 career catches are a NFL record for a player during their first three seasons.<p></p> --T Terron Armstead, who returned last week from a five-game absence due to a pectoral injury and aggravated the injury last Sunday, did not practice Wednesday.<p></p> --T Jermon Bushrod, who missed last week's game because of a hamstring injury suffered a week earlier, did not practice.<p></p> --G Larry Warford (knee) did not practice Wednesday.<p></p> --T Ryan Ramczyk (shoulder) was limited Wednesday.<p></p> --S Vonn Bell (quadriceps) was limited Wednesday.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: The quarterbacks. We don't know exactly what head coach Sean Payton's plan is for using his quarterbacks, but it is expected that more than one will play and the productivity from that position, as always, will have a significant impact on how the Saints' offense performs. Drew Brees doesn't need to play because the Saints don't need to win, but he is just eight yards short of extending his NFL record for consecutive seasons with 4,000 yards to 13, so a cameo appearance is possible. Backup Teddy Bridgewater could ultimately be Brees' successor, but he's also going to be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason so other teams will be interested in seeing him play. An extended appearance by him would help the Saints and others evaluate what kind of offer he'll command in the offseason. Taysom Hill has been a useful player this season, but he has never played more than occasional snaps at quarterback.<p></p> GAME PLAN: Don't get anyone hurt. Of course, no game plan can protect players from injury, but the point is to get through this game as healthy as possible. Along the way the Saints would like to regain the offensive balance that has been missing lately, but a series of injuries on the offensive line and the likelihood of limiting snaps for key skill players will make that challenging. Similarly, the defense hopes to sharpen its edges by defending the pass better than it did last week, which should be realistic against this offense with Kyle Allen starting qt quarterback rather than against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense, and give some backups some playing time.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH:<p></p> --Saints LBs vs. Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey. This, of course, assumes McCaffrey plays in a game that has no meaning for either team. This was a key matchup in the first meeting and it becomes even more important in the absence of Cam Newton. The Saints did a good job of containing McCaffrey in the first meeting. He ran 15 times for 53 yards and caught eight passes for 67 yards, though he did throw a 50-yard halfback pass for Carolina 's only touchdown. The Panthers' offense had been limited to little more than Newton and McCaffrey before Newton was sidelined. Now New Orleans will be even more focused on taking away McCaffrey and it will be even more challenging for the Panthers to get him free for big plays.<p></p> Saints OL vs. Panthers LB Luke Kuechly. Again, this assumes Kuechly plays, but there's no guarantee he will. Kuechly led a very good defensive performance in the first meeting and again he will be the key to the Panthers defense trying to slow down the Saints. He had game-highs of 13 total tackles, 11 solo tackles and two tackles for loss in the first game as batting down one of Drew Brees' passes. His ability to read the offense, get into the backfield, make tackles all over the field and play in pass coverage means New Orleans has to account for him primarily on virtually every snap. </div> <div class="flex gap-2"> <div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div> </div> <div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div> </div> </div> <div class="py-6 space-y-6"> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2> <a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> 2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>Read More Stories</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2> <a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? 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