Saints fans have the right to be excited after demolishing a bad Panthers team

The New Orleans Saints got the 2024 season started with a massive win over the Carolina Panthers. Surpassing everyone’s expectations, the Saints won 47-10. Blowouts like that are rare in the NFL, especially in Week 1, but New Orleans was able to put one together by playing a complete game.

While the Saints and some fans rejoiced, there was a natural inclination to say well, it’s just the Panthers. Carolina was the worst team in the league last season, winning just two games, and New Orleans swept them. As the game unfolded, it was only fair for people to ask if the Saints are this good or if the Panthers are just that bad.

The rest of the season will reveal the correct answer, but in the immediate aftermath of the game, New Orleans shouldn’t let anyone rain on its parade; this was definitely a promising performance for the Saints.

Saints fans should be hopeful after Week 1 blowout

Let’s say Carolina is actually still a terrible football team. At the very least, Sunday’s game proves New Orleans isn’t also a bad football team. Last year, when the Panthers were bad, the Saints only beat them 20-17 in the second week of the season. The game was reflective of New Orleans’ level at the time, because the team went on to lose four of its next five games.

Later in the year, the Saints defeated Carolina 28-6 in Week 14. The margin of victory showed they were playing better, and that was evident as New Orleans finished the season winning four of its final five games.

If we can still use the Panthers as a barometer like we could a year ago, it’s clear the Saints are levels above from being a bad team. Prior to the game, not many analysts predicted that would be the case. New Orleans is already surpassing expectations, so fans have the right to be excited.

Of course, it’s just Week 1, and rent is due every week in this league, so the Saints must continue to prove they are legit. Fortunately, fans won’t have to wait long for a definitive answer, as New Orleans travels to play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. The Saints will also play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3 and the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. By that point, everyone will have a pretty good idea where the Saints stand in the league.

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