The New Orleans Saints host the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, in a matchup that will determine who the top team in the NFC South is. The Saints' primary concern this weekend is to make Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who is fourth in the NFL in passing yards per game hold the ball, take away his downfield throws, and put pressure on him.
The Panthers team captain was in MVP conversations this season, with 1,549 yards through the first five games. However, opposing defenses have started to figure out how to counterattack Young, causing his average yards per game to slip 35 yards from 309.8 to 274.6. Now it's just Brandon Staley's turn to see if he can get his unit doing the same thing.
It was his last two games in October, when he played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers, that got the better of Young. With an EPA of -29.1 versus +0.22 and 4.5 net yards per attempt versus 6.94, he had a dropoff in his success. Young was pressured on 50% of his dropbacks over those two games, which caused him to only complete one 10+ yard pass in Green Bay.
How the Saints can respond to Bryce Young's recent slide
The Saints pass rush can certainly do their part in attacking the Panthers quarterback, with Chase Young and Carl Granderson second and fourth in the NFL in sacks. Granderson has been on a tear, becoming the first player since Robert Mathis in 2013 with multiple sacks in four straight games. Linebacker Kaden Elliss has also finally warmed up after missing a few games with a calf injury, with seven pressures, four hits, and a sack on Sheduer Sanders last week.
Where it gets even better for the team is that under Brandon Staley, New Orleans has conquered before Bryce Young before. In their two victories over Carolina last season, Bryce Young completed 65% of his passes for just 287 yards and two touchdowns. If they can match even a bit of that, the NFC South will be in their hands.
However, this season, it's something that the Saints have been needing to work on. Currently, they're 28th in pass yards allowed per game, with 236.6. Speaking of 28, that's the number of pass plays 20 yards and over that they've allowed. They'll have to limit those kinds of plays if they want a chance at holding Bryce Young back.
The pieces are there for the Saints; they just need to use them well. If they can put a cap on the Panthers' quarterback, then their chances of taking the division lead will only get better.
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