Panthers Survive Saints Comeback Bid
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
The Carolina Panthers were pounding the Saints all game long when they had a 23 to 3 lead at the end of the third-quarter. The New Orleans Saints scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth-quarter. The Saints comeback bid went out the door when the Panthers completed a 18-yard pass to Kelvin Benjamin on a third-and-10 play with 2:26 remaining.
Carolina defeated New Orleans 23 to 20. With the game tied at 3 in the second-quarter, Jonathan Stewart scored on a 1-yard rush for the Panthers. He only had 31 rushing yards on the night. With 39 seconds to go in the first half when the Panthers had a 13 to 3 lead, Carolina blocked a field goal and they would return it for a touchdown, except a block in the back penalty was called.
No worries for the Panthers though, on the next play, Cam Newton threw a 40-yard touchdown strike to Ted Ginn Jr. Newton finished with 192 passing yards and 1 touchdown. He only rushed for 7 yards.
In the fourth quarter, Drew Brees threw two touchdown passes to Brandon Coleman (9 yards) and Coby Fleener (8 yards). Brees finished with 285 yards passing also and 1 interception.
Panthers linebacker, Luke Kuechly, was injured and carted off the field for a possible concussion.
The Carolina Panthers will travel to face the Oakland Raiders (7-2) next Sunday.
