Saints block extra point, score first two-point return in history

The Carolina Panthers seize the lead after trailing most of the game, 27-24, over the New Orleans Saints with 2:51 left in the 3rd.

Although it was a close game, the team managed to beat the Saints in a 41-38 win during Sunday’s match-up.

Whether that counts as progress depends on your perspective.

This result was not possible prior to this year; a blocked extra point in past seasons had resulted in a dead ball, and no players could return it for a score.

The Carolina Panthers became the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs on Sunday when the Atlanta Falcons fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It is the third consecutive year the Panthers have won their division. “Something different and new to them that they didn’t see and I think that helped us”.

And the Saints did look like a team that’s pretty much done with this season in their 24-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the previous week.

However, the Saints’ offense was unable to convert cornerback Delvin Breaux’s interception or Kenny Vaccaro’s recovery of Olsen’s fumble into points.

Compare those six Saints players to the ones the Panthers have in those five draft classes.

Before Sunday, the Saints were 27-3 since 2006 when forcing three or more turnovers.

Stewart scored his TD shortly before halftime, but Graham Gano’s extra point kick was blocked by Kevin Williams and returned 82 yards by Anthony to give New Orleans a 16-13 lead. He has a 5-4 career record against the Saints, and passing totals of 147 completions, 1,916 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions.

The lead didn’t last long, as the Panthers started the third quarter with a long touchdown drive. Let’s not forget to mention that the once heralded potent attack of Sean Payton’s crew has 20 points in the past two games. “Dennis and (Browner) have a great relationship”.

The Saints got on the board first when Drew Brees hit Benjamin Watson with a 14 yard touchdown pass. It was the first touchdown for the Saints in their last 20 drives.

Then the Panthers fumbled the ball back to the Saints for another score and the Panthers were suddenly down fourteen.

” data-enhanced=”small” Payton indicated his displeasure with the officiating by emphasizing at the beginning of his post-game press conference that he wouldn’t discuss officiating”. “And it happened twice – 12 men on the field, clearly”. He leads the league with 13 1-2 sacks and seems to be everywhere on the field.

The Saints rallied back however, with a blown coverage assignment allowing Brees to find Brandin Cooks on a 54 yard touchdown before the end of the third quarter.

The Panthers moved within 14-7 on Newton’s 12-yard flip to fullback Mike Tolbert, and they made it 14-13 when Newton ran the option and flipped a pitch to Stewart, who scored from 5 yards out.

Brees had one final drive to try and turn the game on its head again but after getting a first down to Cooks, his next three passes were incomplete to drop their record to 4-8 and all but end any hopes of a wildcard berth.

A year ago, after Carolina’s 41-10 blowout, the Saints and Panthers appeared to be moving rapidly in opposite directions. “It does talk a little bit about having that kind of ability, not being at your best and still winning a football game”, Rivera said. “We just wanted to get the football there”. “I didn’t know whether I should keep running or not”. The Panthers have room to improve, but have found a way to win, this time finding themselves in a shootout with one of the best gunslingers to ever play in Drew Brees.