On the surface, Sunday's matchup between the 1-7 Carolina Panthers and 2-6 New Orleans Saints looks pretty uninteresting. But this is the NFL, where intrigue lives in even the darkest of spaces.

Here are the biggest storylines for this (still interesting) NFC South showdown:

One last time for No. 9?

For the second straight week, we still don't know the Panthers' plans at the quarterback position beyond their upcoming kickoff. So we may, also for the second straight week, be on the eve of Bryce Young's final start for Carolina.

Young will get the starting nod once again, even despite Andy Dalton's full participation in each practice through Friday. His first appearance back in the lineup went relatively well, as he completed 24 of his 37 passes for 224 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions against one of the very best defenses in the NFL.

This Sunday's opponent doesn't boast the same level of defense that the Denver Broncos did, but facing the Saints has been anything but easy for Young. Over three career outings against New Orleans—all losses—he completed just 48.5 percent of his throws for 451 yards (150.3 per game), one score and two picks.

Whether he's performing for the Panthers or for an interested buyer ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, last year's No. 1 overall pick still has to prove why he was last year's No. 1 overall pick.

Trotting out the foals

Just like he did in Week 8, Young will have to put on an encouraging showing without the help of the team's top veteran pass catchers. But this time, Diontae Johnson is completely off the roster while Adam Thielen is considered doubtful due to his hamstring injury.

So, just like they did in Week 8, rookie wideouts Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker will need to step up. The former flashed his strength and athleticism on an opening-drive touchdown catch on the league's best cornerback and the latter recorded a season-best 78 receiving yards and his first pro score.

They'll catch a bit of break this Sunday, too—as the Saints have already ruled out cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Kool-Aid McKinstry with hamstring issues of their own.

Left and center

Unlike last week, Young will not have his starting left tackle in Ikem Ekwonu—who has also been ruled out because of an ankle injury.

The third-year hog molly has been bouncing back from a rough sophomore campaign. Ekwonu is currently sitting on career-highs across the board from Pro Football Focus with his overall offensive grade (72.8), pass-blocking grade (68.9) and run-blocking grade (80.7).

In his stead will be Brady Christensen, who has proved to be a solid replacement at center for Austin Corbett. Christensen will now shift over to the blindside, where he was a consensus All-American at Brigham Young University in 2020.

And in his stead will be Cade Mays, the team's sixth-round pick from 2022. Mays played his first 10 NFL snaps at center in last week's loss to Denver.

Streak-breakers

Although Halloween is now officially behind us, we still might have a ghastly sight ahead on Sunday.

The only team in the NFL with a longer losing streak than the Panthers is (you guessed it) the Saints. Carolina comes in on five straight defeats while New Orleans heads in with six.

For the Panthers to reset their run, they'll have to reset their minds from Week 1—where they allowed 47 points and 379 total yards to their divisional foes.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Biggest storylines for Panthers vs. Saints in Week 9