The early hours of Tuesday morning, 00.15 Sept 19th, sees the action from the NFL continue as the New Orleans Saints make the trip to Charlotte to face the Carolina Panthers.

It looks set to be another fiery contest between these two rivals in the NFC South, with the Saints looking to make two wins from two at the start of the new 2023 NFL season.

Team news

Starting with the hosts, there are doubts surrounding the Panthers’ Taylor Moton as he races to recover from a biceps injury in time for Pittsburgh’s arrival.

DJ Clark and Jaycee Horn are also doubts as the pair are both dealing with hamstring injuries ahead of this divisional showdown.

As for the visitors, Juwan Johnson is a doubt as he continues his rehabilitation from a calf strain, while Kendre Miller has a sore hamstring and could miss out.

JT Gray is a doubt with a shoulder complaint, while Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara is still sidelined through suspension for a further two games and won’t make the trip to the Bank of America Stadium.

New Orleans Saints -2.5 Handicap @ 10/13 

The Saints will head to Charlotte on a high after a 16-15 win over the Tennessee Titans in New Orleans on the opening weekend of the season.

Two road games now await the Saints, with trips to the Panthers and the Green Bay Packers, before they are back on home turf against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the start of October.

New Orleans have a strong record over the Panthers in recent years, winning nine of their last 13 meetings with Carolina.

The Panthers have had the better of the most recent exchanges, winning the last two encounters, including a 10-7 win in New Orleans last time out.

However, rookie Panthers quarterback Bryce Young might well take some time to adapt to life in the NFL.

Completing 20 of his 38 passes, throwing a touchdown and an interception, it was a mixed performance on debut in a 24-10 defeat at the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.

The Saints will look to pile more pressure on the youngster and, with the more experienced Derek Carr at quarterback, New Orleans should fall on the right side of the handicap in this one.

Jamaal Williams 1st touchdown scorer @ 6/1 

The Saints’ most dangerous threat on the ground in their opening win against the Titans, keep a lookout for Jamaal Williams in the first touchdown scorer market.

A former Packer and Detroit Lion, the running back featured in his first regular season game for the Saints last time out and looked a tidy operator.

With 18 carries for 45 yards, Williams did not burst free, but did put in the hard yards to help his side to the narrowest of victories against Tennessee.

In the cagey first exchanges in this next battle in Charlotte, Williams looks good value to score the opening touchdown of the contest.