When’s the last time that we’ve felt this good about the Carolina Panthers this late into a season?

Well, we may have to go back to the middle of 2019—when they were 5-3 after Week 9. But that campaign would quickly fall off a cliff, when that team lost each of their eight remaining games.

This team, fresh off perhaps the most stunning upset of 2025, is hoping to stay above .500 and stay away from that previous fate. At 5-4 and with wins in four of their previous five contests, the Panthers have a chance to up their mark against the 1-8 New Orleans Saints at home on Sunday.

So, what should we be looking forward to as Carolina tries to continue their ascent?

Here are the biggest storylines for their Week 10 battle with the Saints . . .

Airing it out

As clutch as quarterback Bryce Young has been this season—having already led the Panthers on three game-winning drives—his stats aren’t exactly, well, sexy.

Through eight starts, he’s passed for just 173.8 yards per contest with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. Carolina enters Week 10 with the third-least productive passing offense, at 170.9 yards a game.

While riding running back Rico Dowdle has worked thus far, the Panthers cannot take a step into serious contention without a multi-dimensional offense. They’ll have to, at some point, sling it around and keep opposing teams on their toes.

A middling Saints defense may present a decent enough opportunity for them to test the air. But that could be a challenge if their leading receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is questionable with a hamstring injury, cannot go.

If McMillan is out, second-year wideouts Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker will have to step up for Young.

Shough and thrive?

New Orleans may also give the Carolina defense a chance to show out. They’ll be putting rookie Tyler Shough under center for his second career start, which follows a not-so-inspiring first.

Shough, probably as expected, appeared limited in his abilities to try and spark a struggling Saints offense. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 176 yards, a touchdown and an interception in last week’s 34-10 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Moving forward, he’ll be without wide receiver Rashid Shaheed and left guard Trevor Penning—both of whom were traded before this year’s deadline. Plus, starting right tackle Taliese Fuaga is not suiting up due to an ankle injury.

Oh, and running back Alvin Kamara isn’t the Alvin Kamara we’re used to seeing. The 30-year-old is currently averaging career-worsts in rushing yards per carry (3.6), rushing yards per game (41.9) and receiving yards per game (16.7).

After containing a potent Packers offense in Week 9, the Panthers can keep building this Sunday.

Take care of business

That Week 9 victory in Green Bay was the highest high the organization has experienced all season. But a loss to New Orleans in Week 10 would likely be the lowest low.

The Panthers have to be able to take care of business at home this weekend, especially against a one-win team that’s already setting up for next season—as evidenced by their sells at the deadline and their trial run of a 26-year-old rookie quarterback.

Carolina will head into play just a game and a half behind the division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And with the Bucs dealing with a handful of key injuries ahead of their meeting with the 7-2 New England Patriots, the Panthers could gain more ground in the NFC South race.

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