ANALYSIS: Pete Carroll is conservative and old school and likes the bird in hand. Myers is used to kicking outdoors in elements and is tied for the NFL lead with 11 attempts through three weeks (8 made). He converted two in the win over the G-men last year.
ANALYSIS: The offense is lacking multiplicity and there isn’t much to fear these days besides Darren Waller, maybe. You kinda know where the ball might be going. I could see Pete Caroll’s zone looks giving him issues, especially his Cover-3 stuff; Jones has thrown more than twice as many picks (16, with just 11 TDs and an 80.1 rating) against Cover-3 as any other zone look and he was under heavy fire when these teams met last year (5 sacks).
ANALYSIS: The Saints passing D is top notch. They don’t get beat deep and they punish you in the short passing game. Panthers aren’t a big play offense to begin with and I don’t see a lot of seven step drops. Maybe something materializes off-script, but the Saints are tough. I don’t see Dennis Allen gambling a ton on the road, even against a novice passer. He can get pressure with four. The Panthers' longest pass play was 14 yards against a far shoddier Falcons defense..
ANALYSIS: I don’t buy either offense. I don’t buy either coach really wanting to open it up. The Saints have played seven straight games that came in under 40 total points. Since Week 8 of last year their defense has allowed 14.5 PPG. Their defense is first in yards/play, yards/attempt, passing TDs (7), and oppo QB rating (70!) since Week 8, allowing just 17 total offensive TDs (2nd) and fifth in sack rate. Frank Reich will protect his rookie QB, they will try to run the ball a ton knowing his leaky offensive line is a problem. I don’t see either team playing with pace and Derek Carr in primetime usually doesn’t go well (one win in last 9).
ANALYSIS: He hasn’t looked any good since he left Houston and that won’t change here with the Steelers’ top-notch defense knowing it needs to dominate. TJ Watt will get off against a beat-up offensive line, Watson’s decision-making is dubious and he can only run so much. Game flow will dictate he has to try to push the ball downfield more against a team that tied for NFL lead in INTs a year ago. Will keep banging this at plus money.