Young Saints Continue to Grow Up Before Our Eyes

Defensive Growing Pains

Oct 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb (28) knocks a pass away from Carolina Panthers tight end Ed Dickson (84) during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 41-38. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Once again, the Saints defense got off to a great start in the first half against the Panthers, at one point leading the game 21-0. They pressured Cam, and even came away with a terrific red zone interception, a rare sight for this defense.

However, like the game against the Raiders, when they gave up 22 points in the 4th to lose by one, the wheels came off a little with the game on the line.

On Sunday, the Panthers managed to score 21 points in the fourth on three touchdown drives. Normally this is the type of thing that gets a team beat, but the Saints weathered the storm, and managed to get the win, thanks in large part to the effort on offense.

While it may seem difficult to find positives on the defensive side of the ball with such a poor performance of late, I would argue the Saints are still learning.

They haven’t had much of an opportunity to play with a lead this season, and on Sunday, the Saints did not trail for a single second of the game.

Much how an offense needs practice converting in two-minute situations with the game on the line, the Saints defense still needs to learn how to play with the lead.

Oct 16, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) runs with the ball past New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (94) to score a touchdown during the fourth quarter at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints won 41-38. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Against the Raiders in Week #1, the Saints gave up a 75 yard touchdown run that breathed new life into Oakland. This was exactly the type of back-breaking play you cannot allow teams to make when they are trying to get back into a football game.

While there were some big pass interference calls that went against the Saints, the one called on Kenny Vaccaro was particularly egregious, and would have made this a lot more comfortable for Saints fans.

Additionally, the last two Panther scoring drives were drives of nine plays and six plays, respectively, with each drive taking over three minutes.

At least the Saints forced the Panthers to make plays, instead of letting them score with little to no resistance.