Madden simulation for NOLA Saints vs Panthers week 17

The NOLA Saints are 7-8 after getting blown out by the Dolphins on Monday Night Football. Madden predicted New Orleans would win but hopefully, they have better luck this time around with the Carolina Panthers coming to town.

What’s at stake for the Saints this week is a potential playoff berth. They’re still in the running despite posting a losing record but they have to win out and hope for some help along the way.

The Panthers are a mess after starting the season 3-0 and looking like they could be a surprise team in 2021. When Christian McCaffrey isn’t on the field, the Panthers aren’t the same team and we’ve known that for years. McCaffrey torched the Saints in Week 2 when these two teams squared off but Carolina won’t have him for round two, giving NOLA the edge.

New Orleans also has 18 players coming off the COVID-19 list, including Taysom Hill. Having him back will be critical considering Ian Book struggled last week and proved he’s not quite ready to be thrown out to the wolves.

Madden Simulation – NOLA Saints 20, Carolina Panthers 10

Saints Stats

• Taysom Hill – 16-of-30, 145 yards; 6 carries, 87 yards
• Alvin Kamara – 17 carries, 75 yards, TD; 4 rec, 28 yards
• Marquez Callaway – 9 rec, 126 yards
• Demario Davis – 11 tackles
• Cameron Jordan – 1.5 sacks
• Marcus Davenport – 0.5 sack
• Paulson Adebo – INT
• Malcolm Jenkins – INT returned for TD

Panthers Stats

• Sam Darnold – 12-of-28, 120 yards, 2 INT
• Chuba Hubbard – 12 carries, 56 yards, TD
• D.J. Moore – 3 rec, 43 yards
• Jeremy Chinn – 7 tackles
• Derrick Brown – Sack

After the teams trade punts to begin the game, Hill and Kamara are able to lead the team into the red zone where Brett Maher gets NOLA on the board first with a chip shot field goal. That’s all of the points that are on the board by the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Darnold makes a critical mistake on Carolina’s most promising drive yet, as his pass sails into the waiting arms of Jenkins, who takes it to the house. Maher connects on the extra point and it’s 10-0 good guys with about seven minutes remaining in the half.

The teams trade punts yet again and with under a minute to go, the Panthers get into field goal range. Lirim Hajrullahu gets Carolina on the board and it’s 10-3 at halftime.

New Orleans gets the ball to start the second half and Hill takes over entirely on this drive. He runs for a total of 50 yards on the drive with just short attempts to get his offense in scoring territory, capped off by a rushing touchdown from Kamara. 17-3 Saints.

The Panthers give NOLA the ball right back thanks to Darnold throwing a pick right to Adebo, who runs it back deep into Carolina territory. While the Saints’ offensive drive stalls, Maher is able to go 2-for-2 on the day, making it 20-3 good guys.

With the clock ticking down in the fourth quarter, the Panthers put enough “garbage time” drives together and it ends with a Hubbard touchdown making the score look less like a blowout.

Carolina doesn’t have much to play for in their final two games and it shows. New Orleans, on the other hand, is still alive in the playoff picture and if the game ends like this, they’ll be alive entering the final week of the regular season.