The Panthers, who surrendered a 17-point lead and lost to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, entered the fourth quarter with a 23-3 lead before injuries began to take their toll.
Advertisement
Carolina improved to 4-6 with the win, but needs every victory it can get if it has any hope of tracking down the Atlanta Falcons or earning an NFC Wild Card berth.
Running back Jonathan Stewart has rushed 46 times for 112 yards (2.4-yard per carry average) over the last three games.
–After being strafed by Drew Brees in their two previous meetings, the Panthers employed a more conservative game plan with decidedly more successful results.
While Carolina is still within striking distance of the division title, its win was a particularly costly one.
The 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was carted off the field in an emotional moment during the fourth quarter of Carolina’s 23-20 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night.
Kalil and Addison left the game earlier with injuries and did not return.
“I’m not the expert when it comes to that, you’re better off talking to a medical professional about that”, Rivera said. After reaching the New Orleans 1 for first-and-goal, a second-down sack meant the Panthers were set to settle for Gano’s 30-yard field goal until a roughing-the-kicker penalty gave them a first down at the 6. The Panthers Pro Bowl tight end caught four of the seven passes in which Newton threw to him for a meager 33 yards. LB Shaq Thompson also returned for the Panthers after he missed most of the past two games, though LB A.J. Klein, who had replaced him, was out with an apparent concussion.
Yet it wasn’t easy for some Carolina players to refocus after Kuechly’s departure.
They self-imploded on special teams.
Brees and the Saints offense – who entered the game as the No. 1 total and passing offense in the National Football League – evened the score at three later in the first quarter, but then fell apart in the second frame. There was initially some concern for either his knee or his ankle as he was seen limping on the previous play. Carolina took the second half kickoff and marched 43 yards in 16 clock-eating plays before settling for a field goal.
Notes: Payton declined to say whether Mark Ingram was diagnosed with a concussion after he appeared to briefly lose consciousness while taking a hit to the back of the head as he went down at the end of his final run Thursday night.
The sense of dread intensified when Newton threw three straight incompletions on the ensuing drive.
The Saints won the last matchup by a final score of 41-38 thanks in part to quarterback Drew Brees tossing up almost 500 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Carolina had just six first downs in the second half.
Advertisement
The Panthers, last year’s Super Bowl runners-up who are 4-6 this season, have a West Coast trip coming up with games at Oakland on November 27 and at Seattle on December 4.
