New Orleans Saints: 3 Takeaways from Wild Card Round win

New Orleans Saints: 3 Takeaways from Wild Card Round win over Panthers

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints reacts during the first half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

3. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara are human

This takeaway may not necessarily be the most positive one for Saints fans. Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara struggled today as the Carolina Panther defense managed to keep them at bay. Ingram rushed the ball nine times for 22 yards, including a seven-yard run that was his longest of the day. Kamara rushed the ball 10 times for 23 yards and a touchdown. The Panther defense did a nice job of crashing the backfield as soon as they were able to read a run play. The duo caught a pass each for 13 and 10 yards respectively as the Panthers were able to shut them down through the air as well.

For a team that averaged 129.4 rushing yards per game on the season, this was a pedestrian day for the Saints on the ground. Granted, they should be allowed to have an off-day every once in a while.

However, if they want to beat the Minnesota Vikings, they better hope that an off-night is exactly what this is. The Vikings are not exactly stingy on run defense. Giving up 122.3 rushing yards per game, that is ranked fifth-most in the National Football League. The opportunity for improvement is there. The Saints need to have better production out of the backfield as the take on a physically imposing Vikings defense on the road in Minnesota.

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