The Saints beat the Panthers 27-24 in a back-and-forth game today in NOLA. The NFC South division just got a little more separation as New Orleans moves to 4-2 while Carolina drops to 3-4.
First Quarter
The game began with the Saints getting the ball on a touchback. They drove 75 yards by chipping away with only one play over 10 yards. After eating over eight minutes off the clock, New Orleans had a 7-0 lead on a four-yard TD pass to Jared Cook.
A 22-yard strike from Teddy Bridgewater to Curtis Samuel got Carolina in position for a 43-yard field goal which Joey Slye hit to cut the lead to 7-3.
Drew Brees hit Marquez Callaway with a couple of passes to start the drive. Latavius Murray then took a handoff for 25 yards. Brees looked Callaway’s way a few more times completing two more for 24 yards to bring the Saints to Carolina’s 16-yard line. After attempting a couple more runs, Brees took it in himself from a yard out for a 14-3 lead.
Second Quarter
After a loss by Mike Davis and a penalty on the Saints, Bridgewater hit D.J. Moore for a 74-yard TD bomb. That made the game 14-10.
The Saints got to the Panthers 25-yard line and looked like they would at least come away with some points. Brees was promptly sacked by Brian Burns and lost the fumble to the Panthers.
Bridgewater carved up the Saints defense with short to intermediate passes and drove down the field with ease. The drive culminated in another TD pass to Moore for a Carolina 17-14 lead.
With 1:37 left before the half, Brees engineered a smooth drive which ended in a four-yard TD pass to Deonte Harris to give the Saints a 21-17 lead heading into the break.
Third Quarter
After an initial three-and-out by the Panthers, New Orleans drove down the field and converted enough tough third downs to get into Wil Lutz‘s field goal range. With the 41-yard field goal good, the Saints led 24-17.
The Panthers started off the ensuing drive with a huge 41-yard play accentuated by an unnecessary roughness call on Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. WR Samuel actually then ran it in for a five-yard TD. The Panthers tied the game at 24.
Aside from a 20-yard pass over the middle to Tre’Quan Smith, the Saints did just enough to get Lutz in position to hit a 43-yard FG and give New Orleans the lead 27-24.
Fourth Quarter
The Panthers made their way down the field. Bridgewater was sacked and Carolina decided to try a 65-yard FG which Slye missed giving the ball back to New Orleans.
With just under two minutes left in the game, the Saints ran Murray a couple of times before Brees finally plowed in for a first down which sealed the victory for New Orleans.
What’s Next
The 3-4 Panthers host their NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. The 4-2 Saints travel to Chicago to face the Bears in a big NFC matchup.
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Main Credit Image: Embed from Getty Images
