The final game of the season for the Carolina Panthers (7-8) is upon us. I’m actually excited about this last home game against the New Orleans Saints (13-2), and I’m not being sarcastic. I can’t wait to see how things play out on Sunday, considering the interesting storylines.

Clearly, these are teams headed in two different directions – the Saints are coming to the Qcity in search for some much-needed momentum after losing two straight. On the other end of the spectrum are the Panthers, who are en fuengo and would love to add another victory to their two-game winning streak before packing it up for the season.

The great rhythm of the Carolina offense and the lively activity of the defense are exactly how the coaches of some teams like Indianapolis, Minnesota, Denver and New Orleans would love to have their teams playing at this juncture of the season.

Speaking of New Orleans, the offensive juggernaut has looked wimpy in the past two games, scoring a measly 17 points each in losses to Dallas and Tampa Bay. The Saints, who have averaged a league-leading 33 points a game this season, didn’t score another point after halftime of the Bucs game.

If that’s not shocking enough, the New Orleans defense allowed Tampa Bay’s Cadillac Williams to rush for more than 100 yards for the first time this season and score only his fourth touchdown of the year. To say that this team is struggling is an understatement.

And the winner is…

Carolina has a chance to end an up-and-down season with a big statement for themselves and the fans that it was all an aberration. Steve Smith is out, which hurts, but Pro Bowl running back DeAngelo Williams returns to the lineup, and running the ball is what Carolina does best.

The Saints, who have home field advantage throughout the playoffs, would really like to win this game…I mean what team loses three straight at the end of the season and goes on to win the Super Bowl? I can’t recollect who has.

At the least, though, I’m sure New Orleans would be ok with a loss if the team plays better and there are no additional injuries to their key players. It seems like an oxymoron but, yes, you can have improved play and still lose a game. The Panthers are witnesses of that very thing this season.

With that said, there’s no official word from the team but it is likely that the Saints will rest their injured players, and don’t expect to see quarterback Drew Brees or any of the other starters for all four quarters.

With the way the Panthers have been playing, I’m not sure it would matter….Carolina wins going away 35-14.

Damon Ford is a former journalist who is now a public relations professional working in the public and private sectors in Charlotte. He is 8-7 in predicting Panthers games.

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