Their defensive leader was gone and another big fourth-quarter lead was crumbling. Brees’ longest completion went for 22 yards, and New Orleans averaged 5.6 yards per pass play compared to 9.2 in the first meeting. CB Delvin Breaux, who returned on November 6 from a fractured fibula, said he was inactive Thursday night because the team did not want to over work him early on in his recovery by having him play three games in 12 days, but that he expected to play in New Orleans’ next game November 27. “We’ll see what happens and I’ll wake up tomorrow and keep working”. “It all just comes down to you just hope he’s okay”. “I’m keeping Luke in my prayers”. Carolina is evaluating corner Leonard Johnson (chest contusion), starting center Ryan Kalil (shoulder sprain) and defensive end Mario Addison (ankle).
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The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a possible concussion. Cam Newton missed one game with a concussion and starting left tackle Michael Oher has been out since the first week of October while continuing to battle concussion symptoms.
According to UPI, the Saints’ Drew Brees has a history of mind-boggling stats and was the MVP in Super Bowl XLIV. Wil Lutz, whose second-quarter field goal was blocked, tacked on another three points to help the cause. Panthers LB David Mayo ” I definitely think that we all felt for Luke. Fortunately, the Panthers now have an extended break before traveling out west to face Oakland and Seattle. “It’s remarkable in a sense”, said Panthers safety Kurt Coleman.
If this had been the second play of the game, that would have been one thing. Everybody at this level makes a choice, and you know what you sign up for. “Not only our team but their team”.
Brees threw two touchdown passes and connected on 35 of 45 throws for 285 yards and one interception.
That clutch first-down play enabled the Panthers to milk the clock, preserve their 23-20 lead and give the ball back to Brees in desperation mode. “You can’t ask for the guys to do a better job”.
Kuechly was visibly gasping for breath, his cheeks wet with tears, as he sat on the field while team doctors ran to check on him during the gut-wrenching scene. The Panthers will have 10 days before their next game. We shouldn’t expect to turn the ball over and get a kick blocked at the end of the half and now it’s a ten point swing.
I don’t know, but we’re going to need to get it figured out. We just got to get him to calm down, and that’s why we asked (Panthers LB Thomas Davis) to go talk to him because TD is his brother. It cost us at NY, it cost us last weekend (against) Denver and it cost us again tonight.
We’ll have up-to-the-minute scoring and stats here throughout the game.
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.
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It appeared as though Ted Ginn Jr. had turned the favorable field position into a touchdown, but his 14-yard run was overturned by a replay review.
