Welcome to the second half of the 2014 NFL season. This week’s NFL Week 9 Thursday Night Football game kicks off with Drew Brees, Jimmy Graeme and the New Orleans Saints (3-4, 1st in NFC South) as 2.5 point road favorites versus Cam Newton, Riverboat Ron Rivera and the Carolina Panthers (3-4-1, 1st in NFC South).
Being home underdogs might just favor Carolina as the Saints are 7-19 against the spread in their last 26 games as road favorites.
Week 9 starts HERE.
Thursday Night Football lives on NFL Network (8pm ET)! #TNF #NOvsCAR pic.twitter.com/l2IECAUEhL
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 28, 2014
New Orleans coming off an emotional win as home underdogs against Green Bay but now finds itself back on the road visiting an NFC South divisional foe. The Saints can overtake Carolina for the top spot in the weak NFC South by avoiding an eighth straight regular-season road defeat Thursday night against the struggling Panthers.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
When: Thursday, Oct. 30 at 8:25 pm ET
TV: NFL Network
Betting Line: New Orleans -2.5
Money Line: Saints -140 vs Panthers +120
Total: 48
| New Orleans Stats Leaders | Carolina Stats Leaders |
| Passing: Brees – 205-295, 2227 yds, 14 tds Rushing: Ingram – 58 car, 331 yds, 4 tds Receiving: Graham – 39 rec, 435 yds, 4 tds |
Passing: Newton – 137-228, 1643 yds, 8 tds Rushing: Stewart – 58 car, 217 yds, 1 td Receiving: Benjamin – 38 rec, 571 yds, 5 tds |
Saints Vs. Panthers NFL Week 9 Thursday Night Football Odds
2-2 at home is not the kind of record the Carolina Panthers were hoping to have at this midway point of the season, but the loss of Greg Hardy exposed the crack in Panthers’ defense making this a must win game as they still have to travel down to New Orleans later this season.
ICYMI: @DeAngeloRB is back!
The RB is expected to play Thursday night vs. the #Saints: http://t.co/cvhh2puP8n pic.twitter.com/qVtRLRDOmX
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 28, 2014
The Panthers have won once since starting 2-0.
"It’s tough when you don’t score touchdowns and miss opportunities," coach Ron Rivera said. "You have to make hay down in the red zone."
The Saints losing record is quite deceiving as they have the NFL’s second-ranked offense that’s seventh in rushing (133.0 yards per game) and second in yards per carry (5.1). The Saints finished 26th in rushing over the previous two seasons, averaging 95.3 yards and slightly over four per attempt.
#Saints reporter @DrewBrees had a question for Rob Ryan at his press conference
https://t.co/pjsnG9b6gf
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) October 28, 2014
New Orleans is 2-4 SU in its last six games when playing on the road against the Panthers. Brees has two touchdowns, four interceptions and a 73.1 passer rating while losing the last two at Carolina.
Carolina is 5-1 ATS in its last six games when playing at home against New Orleans. Newton has thrown four TDs, run for two and been picked off twice while going 2-1 at home versus the Saints.
Bet the Panthers at home since the Saints can’t win on the road or outdoors.