CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton playfully referred to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery as “Clutchery” last week. Don’t question my integrity when it comes to those things. Ok? You can’t say it’s scheme. The good news for them is the Steelers have to play at Cincinnati on Sunday before hosting the Broncos the following week, so there’s a good opportunity for the Jets to pull further ahead in conference win-percentage.
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In addition to coverage mix-ups, the Saints were hurt by penalties, committing 11 for 104 yards – several of the drive-sustaining variety on third down.
On Sunday, Newton helped the Panthers remain unbeaten by leading his them back from two different deficits, completed 9 of 13 passes for 149 yards and two TDs in the fourth quarter a 41-38 win against the New Orleans Saints.
“I expected us to win the football game”, Newton said, adding he wasn’t pleased by how tight the game got at the end against the reeling Saints (4-8), who’ve lost four straight. “But that doesn’t mean that moving forward we can’t get back to where we need to be”. This was a wakeup call for us.
“Every game is important for us right now, so as bad as this hurts”, Texans DT Vince Wilfork said after losing at Buffalo, “we have to be able to turn the page quickly because of just how the season is turning out for us”. They allowed 38 points to the New Orleans Saints and while that is a team with Drew Brees, they are no longer an elite National Football League team that should be putting up lucrative amounts of points against quality defenses, as CBS Sports points out.
Darren Sproles returned a punt 83 yards for the Eagles’ second special teams touchdown, giving Philadelphia a 21-point lead before the Patriots charged back.
“There were a lot of good things, but still too numerous little things that get you beat”, Brees said. “Just got to keep this train going, man”. I try to be as forthright as I can, and when I’m doing that, the least I can do is get the common courtesy that I’m being believed.
AVERTING THEIR EYES: Carolina can wrap up a third straight NFC South championship before it takes the field for today’s later-afternoon game if the Falcons lose to Tampa Bay earlier in the day.
After Payton’s timeout, which he used to yell at the officials about their blatant miss of a 12-man huddle, Cam Newton ran for 30 yards to extend the drive and, three plays later, he connected with Tolbert for a 12-yard touchdown pass to cut the Saints lead to 14-7.
“It goes back to his whole development as a quarterback in this league”, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. Olsen had to fall to the field to make a, rolling fingertip grab of the underthrown pass, which was so close to hitting the turf that fans in the Superdome were roaring at replays as Saints coach Sean Payton asked for a review.
Olsen finished with nine catches for 129 yards. Six of those teams reached the Super Bowl and four won it. Within the last 15 years, however, only the 2009 New Orleans Saints did it.
In particular, there were two Carolina turnovers in the first half that the Saints failed to capitalize on, with the first coming in the first quarter on an interception by New Orleans cornerback Delvin Breaux.
Anthony ripped the ball away from Stewart as he to push through a pile of players. Carolina players seemed to think the play was over and watched as Anthony raced 31 yards for a 14-0 Saints lead.
“I know what happened with the Rams, and I know coach [Jeff] Fisher talked about being in the moment of the game and not knowing – I didn’t know yesterday as far as what had happened, because when plays happen, you go to the next one”, Rivera said of Keenum’s situation. “I didn’t hear a whistle, and I kind of waited, then I kept going”.
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So was Newton, finishing with 28 completions on 41 attempts for 331 yards and five touchdowns.
