Saints vs. Panthers: 3 things you need to know
First place in the NFC South will be on the line Thursday night when the New Orleans Saints visit the Carolina Panthers. Both teams will also be looking to get back to .500 for the season.
Here's what you need to know:
Saints struggling on the road
The Saints have one of the best home-field advantages in the league playing out of the raucous Mercedes-Benz Superdome. However, it's been a different story on the road.
New Orleans is 0-4 as the visiting team this season. And there is a noticeable difference in quarterback Drew Brees's play away from the comfy confines of the Superdome. His completion percentage drops by four percent and his quarterback rating falls more than 10 points on the road.
A loss at Carolina late in 2013 cost them a shot at the division crown, so the Saints will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself this time around.
Panthers must solve offensive woes
The Panthers were anything but an offensive juggernaut coming into the season, but things have taken a turn for the worse lately.
Carolina has missed the 20-point mark in three of their last five games, and their touchdown percentage in the red zone has dipped to just over 46 percent. That's good enough for 28th in the league. Never was their failure to cross the goal line more evident than last weekend's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when three trips to the red zone produced just a pair of field goals.
The expected return of DeAngelo Williams should help, but considering the way the Saints can light up the scoreboard, Carolina better be prepared to keep pace if they expect to win.
Mark Ingram looking to build on career game
New Orleans normally likes to air the ball out, but they found success on the ground last week against the Packers.
Mark Ingram carried 24 times for a career-high 172 yards and a touchdown, helping the Saints keep the Green Bay offense off the field. Keeping the ground game rolling should be a recipe for success on the road, and will help take the crowd out of the game.
Pierre Thomas has already been ruled out and Khiry Robinson may not play, so Ingram has a chance to stake his claim as the lead back in the Saints' backfield.