Saints, Panthers Set for First-Place NFC South Game

The 3-5 New Orleans Saints host the 3-5 Carolina Panthers on Sunday, with the winner taking sole possession of first place in the NFC South and a valuable edge in the division race. Carolina enters on a three-game losing streak, but quarterback Bryce Young’s strong performance against Denver and the Panthers’ receiving threats could challenge a Saints secondary that struggled last week. New Orleans has won two of its past three games, including a narrow overtime victory over Cleveland, and expects running back Travis Etienne back from injured reserve. The Saints will be without center Erik McCoy and right tackle Taliese Fuaga, leaving protection a key concern for quarterback Tyler Shough, who is also reportedly playing with two broken bones in his left hand.