Panthers beat Saints 23-20 in game marred by injuries

The Saints won a 41-38 decision over the Panthers earlier this season, so there’s reason to believe they can still get there. Then came the collapse against Kansas City Sunday and now the defending NFC champs are facing a must-win situation when they take on the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football on NBC, 5:30 p.m. PT/8:30 p.m. ET. Kuechly left the field on a cart while tears streamed down his face.

Their defensive leader was gone and another big fourth-quarter lead was crumbling.

While Saints and Panthers players came up and patted Kuechly on his pads, the NBC cameras showed him crying. Cam Newton was all smiles during the Panthers two-game win streak, but needs to step up is game if Carolina is to have any shot at the playoffs. But Carolina couldn’t find the end zone and Gano wound up coming back out to kick a 32-yard field goal giving Carolina a 3-0 lead.

The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a possible concussion. The Panthers couldn’t do much with the chance, with an offense that’s struggling to give Cam Newton much time.

“It’s two weeks in a row that we’ve had a blocked kick that’s resulted in pretty catastrophic results”, Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. The Saints, who trailed by 20 points midway through the third quarter, pulled within 23-20 with 2:52 left on tight end Coby Fleener’s 8-yard touchdown catch from Drew Brees. New Orleans was within 23-13 with 11:22 to play after Brees’ 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Coleman, with a four-play drive covering 51 yards. The blocked field goal was the difference, a 10-point swing. It didn’t matter as Cam Newton found Ted Ginn Jr. for a 40-yard TD strike on the next play from scrimmage and the Panthers went on to a 23-20 win.

“Our mantra is to Keep Pounding and it speaks volumes in situations like this”, Newton said. Also like the Panthers their identity has not changed much since the first game. “Not only our team but their team”.

The Saints are allowing the most passing yards per game (322.7) in the league this year, so expect to see some aggresive calls by offensive coordinator Mike Shula in this matchup. Brees has been a thorn in the Panthers’ side for years, but never more than in his team’s 41-38 victory on October 16. Ryan Tannehill is actually playing good football, the running game is finally there with Jay Ajayi and the defense looks like a force to be reckoned with. This is the first time this season that the Black and Gold D has recorded two picks in one game.

After three games in London, the National Football League goes global again in week 11 as the Raiders host the Texans in Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. This is a guy who did not have a job, got a job when the Saints opted to cut their alleged opening day kicker and went with Lutz.