By frankie

It’s how you finish that matters. Bill Parcells always talked about how the good teams play their best football once the weather gets cold in November and December. It’s not how you start the season it’s how you finish. Every year you have certain teams that get out of the gate fast. Whether they have a good early schedule or they need good weather to pass the ball well, or they are just pretty boys that can’t play with pain and can’t play when the pressure is on.

There are two teams playing tonight on Thursday Night Football that are finishers. Both the Saints and Panthers are not playing up to the standards that everyone thought of them before the season. Brees and Company were the “chic pick” in the NFC to go the Super bowl but have started out 3-4. Graham has been banged up, Ingram broke his hand and the other running backs also got hurt. Carolina has struggled as well but if you remember correctly they stated out slow last year and went on to win the NFC South. They are 3-4-1 right now and leading the South again, but their record is certainly not that impressive.

The Saints started with four of their first six on the road so logically you would think they might start a little slow. They showed last week against the Packers that they’re not to be taken lightly, especially at home and if they can win tonight and go to 4-4 it’s a whole new season and whole new ballgame. Their next three games are at home against very good teams but we like their chances every time they play in the Superdome.

Carolina as we said is already sitting in first place in a weak division. The Falcons showed last week that they don’t really care about this season since their whole O-Line is out. Carolina just needs to start winning and they will be reckoned with in the playoffs. They shut down the Seahawk offense last week and should’ve won that game. Look at the teams they lost to, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Green Bay and Seattle. They also have a hard fought tie in Cincy. That is nothing to be ashamed about. They too need a win tonight to even their record and then the schedule starts to get a little friendlier.

Look for both teams to play very well tonight. It will be a low scoring game, kinda like the game last week with Carolina and Seattle. It will come down to who makes the plays in the fourth quarter to win it and who wants it more. We are calling up America’s Bookie and betting under 49 as the total is way off on this game. Enjoy the football guys.