Carolina Panthers win Big Easy: 41-10 over Saints

The Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints yesterday to continue the roller coaster ride of the season. Once again we have hope that the Panthers will somehow pull out the playoff berth that the NFC South division has dangled so temptingly in front its membership. The Panthers even play Tampa Bay, the bottom dwellers of a bottom dwelling division, this week to potentially keep the dream alive for another week.

Those The Breaks

If you had asked me what I would take for the Panthers to beat the Saints in New Orleans, I would have said big plays and turnovers. I also would have said an injury to Drew Brees if pushed a little harder. The Panthers did get those plays.

The game started with turnovers. Mark Ingram was stripped by the Panthers defense. Bene Benwikere snagged a Drew Brees pass. The Saints missed a field goal. All of these things prevented the New Orleans offense from getting into form.

The Panthers did not just get the ball in these situations, they scored points. The first two turnovers led to ten points. The Panthers scored another touchdown off of the series following the missed field goal. Sure there was some chippiness and Saints penalties helped, but the Panthers had an honest-to-goodness 24-3 lead at the half. Cam Newton looked fit and the Panthers offensive line was playing its best game of the season.

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Carolina Panthers Putting the Foot Down?

However anyone who has watched the Charlotte Hornets this season knows a twenty point lead is not safe. We expected Brees to adjust, the Panthers to wilt, and the Saints to pull out a 27-24 victory.

It never happened. The defense snuffed the first Saints drive. Newton handed the ball to Jonathan Stewart and suddenly it was all over. 31-3. The Stewart 69 yard touchdown run was a backbreaker. The Panthers could have been forgiven if they stopped there. The Saints could have drifted back and lost 31-24 or something.

They did not. The defense continued to perform. Newton continued to have time to throw and ten more points went up on the board. It was over. Once again we are staring at the divisional standings with the belief that the ‘Dream is alive.’