Canal Street Chronicles
As the Saints prepare for their week 1 showdown, we focus on these matchups for the team leading into the season opener.
The 2024 season is finally here, and the New Orleans Saints are getting set for their season opener against the Carolina Panthers. In an important divisional matchup, the Saints will face key matchups that can either lead to their success or cause their shortcoming.
The entirety of the Saints offensive line will be one to watch against Carolina as the unit is starting a rookie tackle in Taliese Fuaga and a left guard the team named as the starter in just the past week. But no player on the line faces more questions than third-year tackle Trevor Penning. Penning has shown inconsistency throughout training camp and preseason making his matchup with Pro Bowl pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Derrick Brown that much scarier for the New Orleans offense.
Penning sat most of his rookie year for development and when he finally got the chance to start in his second season, he was benched swiftly due to poor play. This season will likely be Penning’s last opportunity to prove to the Saints that he could live up to the hype of a first-round pick that the Saints traded up for.
Chris Olave one-upped his rookie year with a better showing in his second season, but Olave is on a mission to “take the step from a good player to an elite player.” For Olave, this campaign will start against one of the league’s best young corners Jaycee Horn. Horn has dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his career, but when he has been healthy, he’s made an immediate impact. Horn was only active in one match with the Saints during the 2023 season in which Olave finished the day with 4 catches for 28 yards and a touchdown, with the score being with Horn in coverage.
It will be interesting to see Olave’s usage after quarterback Derek Carr and the third-year receiver have been working on their connection during training camp and even staying after practice to continue to get in reps. But for Olave and Carr, this will come as no easy task with an elite corner on the other side.
In the two matchups against the Panthers in 2023 the Saints defense allowed a combined 23 points in two games. The Caroline offense is a different unit heading into 2024 but there is one constant, Bryce Young will be under center. The New Orleans defense took advantage of Young’s little pro-level experience in their previous matchups with disguised defenses and heavy pressure leading to the then-rookie quarterback throwing just one touchdown and getting sacked seven times in two games.
The Panthers beefed up their offensive line during the offseason to help keep Young upright but with a New Orleans defensive line that only got better with the addition of Chase...
