New Orleans Saints: 3 Key players to beating Panthers in Wild Card Round

3. Michael Thomas

While a lot of eyes are on Drew Brees, there’s one player the Panther should be wary of and that’s Michael Thomas. Drafted in 2016, Thomas has become Brees favorite target and easily his most deadly. I mean that in the best way possible!

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After losing Brandin Cooks to the Pats, Thomas truly stood up and took Cooks’ place. In his two matchups against the Panthers, Thomas snagged at least one touchdown and put up over 65 receiving yards. Considering how dominant the Panthers pass defense has been, that’s pretty awesome.

The other reason why Thomas is such a threat to the Panthers is how flexible he is. He can trick defenses into thinking he’s running one route but run a completely different one. His connection with Brees has allowed him to make difficult catches and handle himself under pressure.

Matched with his speed, Thomas is truly the heartbeat of the Saints passing game. While Alvin Kamara has been getting looks, Thomas has proved he’s the team’s top receiver for a reason. His skill, speed and connection with Brees are going to be key in defeating the Panthers.

Thomas is going to be their not-so-secret weapon and keep the Panthers defenders guessing. His performance will be one of the big reasons why the Saints could stamp their ticket to Round 2.

2. Alvin Kamara

Another name I’ve already mentioned is Alvin Kamara. The team’s third-round pick out of Tennessee, Kamara has had an explosive rookie season. From being towards the bottom of the depth chart to sending AP packing, it’s been a whirlwind. Kamara has been the biggest surprise for the Saints and their fans this season, too.

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Paired up with Mark Ingram, Kamara has become the catalyst for the Saints successful rushing attack. During the regular season, he has averaged 6.1 yards per carry, has almost 750 rushing yards and almost 850 receiving yards. Along with that, Kamara is on pace to being named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.

He’s become such a huge part of the Saints offense but not just as a runner. He’s been one of their lead receivers and their kickoff returner. Kamara has been such a dynamic playmaker and heading into the playoffs, he’s poised to have a big game against the Panthers.

Despite playing against the Panthers earlier this season, Kamara had yet to truly make an impact against them. This week, Kamara is finally going to break out. He’s going to rush for 100+ yards, at least 50 receiving yards and a touchdown to boot.