National Football League

Panthers look to snap string of close losses vs. Saints

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:27 p.m. ET

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NEW ORLEANS (4-5) at CAROLINA (3-6)

Thursday, 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network

OPENING LINE - Panthers by 4 1/2

RECORD VS. SPREAD - Saints 6-3, Panthers 3-6

SERIES RECORD -Panthers lead 23-20

LAST MEETING -Saints beat Panthers 41-38 on Oct. 16

LAST WEEK - Saints lost to Broncos 25-23; Panthers lost to Chiefs 20-17

AP PRO32 RANKING - Saints No. 21 (tie), Panthers No. 25

SAINTS OFFENSE - OVERALL (1), RUSH (21), PASS (1).

SAINTS DEFENSE - OVERALL (29), RUSH (19), PASS (32).

PANTHERS OFFENSE - OVERALL (12), RUSH (11), PASS (15).

PANTHERS DEFENSE - OVERALL (15), RUSH (2), PASS (24).

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 465 yards and four TDs vs. Carolina on Oct. 16. ... Brees ranks second in NFL with 2,992 yards passing and is tied for league lead in TD passes (24). Brees has 14 TD passes in last five games. ... RB Mark Ingram has four TDs (2 rushing, 2 receiving) in past three away games. ... WR Willie Snead had two TD catches vs. Denver. ... WR Michael Thomas leads all rookies in receptions (51), yards receiving (613) and TD catches (5). ... TE Coby Fleener had TD catch and TD run in Week 6 vs. Carolina. ... CB B.W. Webb had four pass breakups in last meeting. ... S Kenny Vaccaro has at least seven tackles in past four meetings with Carolina. ... Panthers are 2-3 at home after going 10-0 last season, including playoffs. ... Panthers have lost four games this season by combined 10 points. ... Panthers QB Cam Newton Is only player in NFL history with 20,000 yards passing (20,257) and 3,000 yards rushing (3,486) in first six seasons. ... WR Devin Funchess has TD catch in last two games vs. Saints. ... TE Greg Olsen has 23 receptions for 357 yards in last three games vs. Saints. ... Olsen ranks first among NFL tight ends with 50 catches for 712 receiving yards... C Ryan Kalil has missed the last two games with shoulder injury. ... DT Kawann Short has sack in last two home games. ...Rookie CB James Bradberry had career-high eight tackles in Week 10. ... Pass rush specialist Mario Addison has three sacks in last two games. ... LB Luke Kuechly is averaging 10.6 tackles per game in eight meetings with Saints. Kuechly is second in NFC with 88 tackles. Fantasy Tip: Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart ran for 85 yards and two TDs vs. Saints in last meeting and has four TDs rushing in last four meetings.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL