Predicting the Carolina Panthers 2021 season game by game

Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints

• Week 17 (Sunday, January 2, 2022)
• 1 pm
• FOX

This game is of critical importance for the Carolina Panthers, who come into the game with an 8-7 record and probably knowing they need to win out in order to reach the postseason. The New Orleans Saints will not make things easy for their divisional rivals by any stretch of the imagination, with the Mercedez-Benz Superdome back to its rowdy self with capacity crowds expected to return in 2021.

How the Panthers handle this sort of pressure remains to be seen. This would be unchartered territory for most of their young roster, so playing the game and not the occasion is the best way they can upset the odds and get a priceless win on the road.

There is simply no telling what sort of aspirations the Saints will harbor by this point. If Jameis Winston doesn’t rid himself of the flaws that cost him his job in Tampa Bay, then it’s difficult to see them in postseason contention despite the wealth of talent elsewhere on their roster.

Prediction: Loss

This would be a heartbreaking loss and one that could determine whether the Panthers will be sitting at home watching the playoffs or taking part themselves. Sean Payton’s had Carolina’s number more often than not over the last few years and home-field advantage cannot be understated in this situation.