Slight edgeNO
New Orleans Saints
72.7PFM Team Score#29 NFL
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: PFM Team Comparison
PFM rates the New Orleans Saints higher than the Carolina Panthers overall, with a slight advantage. The main reasons are the less uncertain coaching staff and the stronger defense.
Current PFM Team Scores
CAR
Carolina Panthers
72.1PFM Team Score#30 NFL
PFM JUDGMENT
Why PFM Rates the New Orleans Saints Higher
The New Orleans Saints have the less uncertain coaching situation, but the grade remains below the strength range. Carolina's strongest counterargument is Explosiveness. The Explosiveness concern is smaller for Carolina, but it has not disappeared.
New Orleans also brings the stronger defense. New Orleans adds the less unsettled quarterback situation. PFM still has the New Orleans Saints in front.
TEAM DNA COMPARISON
New Orleans vs. Carolina Across the Core Pillars
The farther a team reaches, the stronger the rating. Each category also calls out which team has the edge and the exact gap. Hover on desktop or tap on mobile to isolate one team.
NONew Orleans Saints
CARCarolina Panthers
THE COUNTERARGUMENT
Carolina Panthers’ Best Argument
Carolina's Explosiveness concern is smaller than New Orleans', but the grade remains below the strength range. The explosiveness advantage is a real point in Carolina's favor, but it does not outweigh the rest of the higher-rated team’s advantages. The problem for Carolina is that New Orleans counters with the less uncertain coaching staff and the stronger defense.
COMPLETE COMPARISON
Where Each Team Has the Edge
PFM Team Score
NO72.7
New Orleans Saints 72.7CAR72.1
Carolina Panthers 72.1Overall NFL Rank
NO#29
New Orleans Saints #29CAR#30
Carolina Panthers #30QB Stability
NO75.9
New Orleans Saints 75.9CAR74.9
Carolina Panthers 74.9Roster Strength
NO70.5
New Orleans Saints 70.5CAR69.3
Carolina Panthers 69.3Coaching Direction
NO76.0
New Orleans Saints 76.0CAR70.8
Carolina Panthers 70.8Recent Performance
NO71.5
New Orleans Saints 71.5CAR74.0
Carolina Panthers 74.0Offense
NO68.7
New Orleans Saints 68.7CAR72.4
Carolina Panthers 72.4Defense
NO78.2
New Orleans Saints 78.2CAR75.1
Carolina Panthers 75.1Franchise Direction
NO66.0
New Orleans Saints 66.0CAR71.9
Carolina Panthers 71.9Explosiveness
NO61.1
New Orleans Saints 61.1CAR71.7
Carolina Panthers 71.7Conference Rank
NO#15
New Orleans Saints #15CAR#16
Carolina Panthers #16Division Rank
NO#3
New Orleans Saints #3CAR#4
Carolina Panthers #4Outlook
NONeeds More HelpCARNeeds More Help
Same outlookTEAM CONSTRUCTION
How These Teams Are Built Differently
New Orleans Saints
- Strongest Rating
- Defense
- Category Edge
- Coaching Direction
- Biggest Matchup Concern
- Explosiveness
Carolina Panthers
- Strongest Rating
- Defense
- Category Edge
- Explosiveness
- Biggest Matchup Concern
- Coaching Direction
Carolina's clearest category edge is Explosiveness. Explosiveness is a concern for both teams, but the Carolina Panthers have the smaller problem against the New Orleans Saints. The biggest problem in this matchup is Coaching Direction, where New Orleans owns the clearer advantage.
SCHEDULE CONTEXT
Which Team Has the Tougher Road?
New Orleans Saints
Full schedule rank: #31
Toughest stretch: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers
Strongest opponents: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears
View New Orleans Saints Road AheadCarolina Panthers
Full schedule rank: #19
Toughest stretch: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strongest opponents: Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles
View Carolina Panthers Road AheadCarolina has the tougher Road Ahead at No. 19. The strongest opponents include Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. New Orleans also has the more favorable road, which adds to the less uncertain coaching staff and the stronger defense.
Explore Both Team Dashboards
Ratings and Schedule Freshness
PFM ratings updated September 8, 2026. Schedule data updated June 29, 2026.
How to Read This Comparison
PFM Team Score determines the overall order. The Team DNA comparison puts five core pillars on the same 0–100 scale, while the full rows show every current category.
PFM compares overall team strength rather than predicting one matchup. Road Ahead adds schedule context without changing PFM Team Score.
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams