Under that logic, the Carolina Panthers top concern right now would be stopping Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday at home. “We are still playing for playoff positioning”, Rivera said according to ESPN.
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Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another while the Seahawks’ defense didn’t allow a score. He may grimace a bit after one of Ginn’s drops, but he’ll also come back to Ginn and spread it around as best he can to all his targets. “What I care about, is by the end of the season, are we as good as a team as we know that we can be?” Carolina’s only loss since has come in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs at Seattle.
Well, the New Orleans Saints lost this past weekend.
It’s called “Victory Monday”, and fans of the undefeated Carolina Panthers are getting used to it.
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.
The Saints (4-8) played well enough to make the game compelling and dramatic enough to enliven the Superdome crowd – just not well enough to outlast Newton and Co., who dropped New Orleans its fourth straight loss. “Especially for guys who weren’t put in that position all week in practice, have to get out there and play up to a great standard, and it didn’t happen”.
“He was able to win a shootout and take a drive in the fourth quarter and give us that chance to win”, Rivera said after the game.
The defense finally stopped Brees and the Panthers became just the ninth team to start the season 12-0 in the Super Bowl era. Only CAM NEWTON (12) has more such games in a player’s first four seasons to begin a career.
Early in the second quarter, Carolina cut the lead in half on Mike Tolbert’s 12-yard touchdown catch, set up by Newton’s 30-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1 a couple plays earlier.
One day after doctors checked Panthers quarterback Cam Newton for a possible concussion, Carolina coach Ron Rivera defended the process in a heated exchange with the media.
If the Saints really apply themselves, I know they could let an opponent score 70 against them. He was sacked four times. “I said walking in this door I was not going to get into it”, Payton said, before pausing about two seconds. “The referee did an unbelievable job with making sure I was all right”.
This looked like it was going to be the streak breaker, the game when the Panthers would slam back to earth and their run at destiny would finally end. Mariota is the only player in National Football League history to pass for at least 250 yards with three touchdowns and rush for more than 100 yards in the same game.
The Saints cashed in on only one of the turnovers, when linebacker Stephone Anthony wrestled the ball from the grasp of running back Jonathan Stewart and ran 31 yards untouched for a touchdown that put the Saints up 14-0 late in the first quarter.
Carolina led 27-16 after Newton’s 13-yard pass to Devin Funchess (Michigan), but New Orleans rallied to take a 31-27 lead on Brees’ 54-yard TD to Brandin Cooks and 24-yard scoring pass to Brandon Coleman.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen has claimed that his side showed their championship credentials in their comeback win over the New Orleans Saints. He threw for five touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 65 seconds left.
49ers 26, Bears 20, OT: Blaine Gabbert’s 71-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith after 2:10 of overtime gave San Francisco a victory over host Chicago.
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Penalties, another problem that has plagued the Saints all season, also handed Carolina six first downs.
