A glitzy, renovated Superdome will host two new-look offenses in Week 1 of an NFL season that also will end in New Orleans.
While the Saints and rebuilding Carolina Panthers are long shots to be in the dome when the Super Bowl is played there in February, New Orleans is urgently trying to end a three-year playoff absence.
Third-year coach Dennis Allen's job security could hinge on the scheme brought in by new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who spent last season as an assistant with NFC champion San Francisco.
Kubiak aims to get the most out of quarterback Derek Carr, running back Alvin Kamara, receiver Chris Olave and versatile skill player Taysom Hill (a tight end, officially) with a system heavy on outside zone runs and play-action passes, and which provides the option of running different plays out of similar formations.
Carr said the new scheme diverges sharply from what Saints fans witnessed for a decade and a half under former coach Sean Payton, and for the past two seasons under former offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., a Payton protege.
“It is going to be different than what they’re used to," Carr said. “They’re going to see a lot of different things that’ll make it really hard for defenses.”
The Panthers finished with the worst record in the league last season at 2-15, but now have a new general manager in Dan Morgan, a new coach in Dave Canales and a revamped roster.
Canales addressed players shortly after his hire and asked them to put last season behind them. It hasn’t been talked about much since.
“If you look at the roster and the turnover that’s happened, it’s a new thing. It’s something new that we’re going to become, which I’m excited about,” Canales said. "We got a bunch of new guys to play with. Let’s learn each other. Let’s figure out a style that we know how to play.”
That message resonated with veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
“We have a lot of new guys on our team that that don’t understand what was going on last year," Thielen said. "That’s a good thing because we are just ready to play football.”
The Saints have three new starters on the offensive line, including two tackles with not much experience. Rookie Taliese Fuaga, a first-round draft choice, is set to make his NFL debut at left tackle. Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-rounder who missed most of his rookie season with a foot injury and then lost the left tackle job last year, is set to start at right tackle.
“He’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s a super coachable guy," Kubiak said of Penning. “A lot can be said about where he started and where he’s come from. He’s earned the right to go out there and play really well on Sunday.”
The Panthers don’t have much experience at outside linebacker opposite veteran Jadeveon Clowney, which could impact their pass rush.
Carolina traded Brian Burns, a top defender in 2023, and lost starter Frankie Luvu to free agency. The Panthers added Clowney and D.J. Wonnum in free agency, but the latter will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, along with top backup Amare Barno.
That leaves Carolina with three edge rushers who’ve never recorded an NFL regular season sack — DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and waiver rookie claim Jamie Sheriff — vying for the spot opposite Clowney.
“We can’t be afraid to expose them" to games, Canales said. "We got to live with some of the lumps.”
Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, returns to the Superdome, where he endured a miserable outing as a rookie.
Young was 13 of 36 for 137 yards and sacked four times as the Panthers were soundly defeated 28-6. He called it one of the loudest stadiums he played in as rookie.
“It’s an awesome environment and they have a great fan base,” Young said. “We’re expecting it to be loud.”
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is expected to be a focal point of the Panthers' passing game.
Johnson had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 for the Steelers and the Panthers believe he can get back to that form.
The Saints' defense ranked 10th against the pass last season and New Orleans' secondary looks even deeper now. Despite trade speculation surrounding top cornerback Marshon Lattimore, he remains, along with Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor and rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry.
Tyrann Mathieu, whose 33 interceptions are tied for second league-wide among active players, returns at safety.
“We got all our guys, they're all healthy and they're all motivated,” Mathieu said. “We're in a good spot.”
