Saints vs. Panthers Monday Week 2: Fading Derek Carr in primetime road games has been profitable
The first #NFL Monday night doubleheader of the season is on tap, and the first game features the New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers in an NFC South matchup with a 7:15 p.m. ET kickoff. It’s the first primetime game as a member of the #Saints for QB Derek Carr, who was just 1-8 in road primetime games during his time with the Raiders with 11 picks and eight passing TDs for a cumulative rating of 68.4. However, New Orleans is -3 tonight with a total of 39.5.
The Saints are looking for their first 2-0 start since 2013, the fifth-longest active streak of not going 2-0 in the NFL. Carr has lost seven of his past nine road starts overall and thrown seven combined picks in his previous three. New Orleans remains without Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, who is serving a three-game suspension. The Saints have lost their past three Monday night games and failed to score more than 16 points in each.
It’s the home opener for the Panthers and No. 1 overall pick QB Bryce Young. The former Alabama star and Heisman Trophy winner struggled in the season-opening loss in Atlanta as the past 15 No. 1 overall QBs are now 0-14-1 in their NFL debut. It’s not much better in their second career start as since 1970, No. 1 overall QBs are 4-19 and have lost their past five in start No. 2. The lone winners were John Elway (Denver), Carson Palmer (Cincinnati), Andrew Luck (Indianapolis) and Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay), who is now Carr’s backup with the Saints.
The Panthers aren’t winning if they don’t protect Young better. He was pressured 19 times in Week 1 and on those was just 5-for-15 for 40 yards with two sacks. Young didn’t have big-play WR DJ Chark in the loss to the Falcons, but Chark is expected to play tonight.
#KeepPounding is looking to avoid its fourth 0-2 start in the past five seasons. It’s the franchise’s first Monday Night Football appearance since 2018 when it lost 12-9 to the Saints in Week 15. The Panthers were 4-1 ATS as home underdogs last season.
At one major book, 74% of bets and 73% of money are on the Saints ATS with 42% of bets and 37% of money on Panthers ML at +140. On the total, 59% of bets and 68% of money are on the over.
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