What a terrible game. The biggest plays were a TD pass by the running back, a fumble on a nicely executed inside run by a wide receiver, a two-point conversion return and a fumble-out-of-the-end-zone touchback. The Saints only TD drive was gifted by a ticky-tack pass interference penalty on an uncatchable ball too. At least the Panthers covered, but it was a brutal watch, and that was on the 40-minute condensed version.
• Cam Newton obviously isn't right. He dinked and dunked his way to 131 yards (4.5 YPA), no TDs and one pick while taking four sacks. He threw several balls into the turf when targeting open receivers and didn't even look that spry as a runner (five rushes, 15 yards.) The Panthers should shut him down.
• Christian McCaffrey had 15 carries for 53 yards against a tough run defense and went 11-8-67 as a receiver. He also threw the game's only TD pass, a 50-yard catch and run. It pains me to say it because I was dubious, but he's a top-five fantasy player this year, and better in real life than I gave him credit for. Even on the running plays, he was patient, but decisive and did a nice job of inching forward for the extra yard, i.e., he looks like a natural between the tackles, and the guy never even shows up on the injury report.
• None of the receivers did anything because Newton couldn't get them the ball. D.J. Moore had a nice 22-yard run derailed by a fumble, and Curtis Samuel went 4-1-17.
• The Saints are 12-2, but they're vulnerable. Drew Brees managed only 5.8 YPA, no TDs, two sacks and a pick, and he's looking for pass-catching options beyond Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.
• Thomas (9-7-49) is a nice intermediate receiver, but he's not a threat to take the top off the defense. The Saints actually miss Ted Ginn in that respect.
• Alvin Kamara (14-67-1, 9-7-36) got his more or less, and Mark Ingram (12 for 63, 2-2-11) was efficient, but the Saints need more explosive plays on offense.
• The two-point conversion return was a cool play you almost never see and a key four-point swing for ATS purposes.
• One odd note: on a 3rd-and-1, Brees tried a sneak and got totally stuffed by the Panthers, something you never see as Brees is one of the best sneakers in the league. But the Saints had a false start, the play didn't count and the Saints went back and converted the 3rd-and-6, so the false start actually helped them. That should never be the case.
• One other note: Sean Payton called a fullback run on 2nd-and-1 to Zach Line who was stuffed. Set aside that for God knows what reason he was given the first down, but why on earth do you call such a low-upside play on 2nd-and-1? Obviously, 2nd-and-1 is better than 1st-and-10, so converting only one or two yards up the field lowers your chances of scoring on that drive. It was a play with literally negative upside.