Panthers hold off Saints

Carolina Panthers kept their slim hopes alive of reaching the NFL Playoffs after a 23-20 win at home against New Orleans Saints.

While both players went for a tackle, Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis’ helmet clipped Kuechly’s. Fact is, if the Saints get a defensive stop and force a three-and-out they have plenty of time to drive into range for a game-tying field goal.

The Panthers fended off the Saints, unlike in Week 10 when Carolina was shut out in the second half and allowed the Chiefs to score 20 unanswered points, including a 37-yard game-winning goal from Cairo Santos as time expired. Kuechly has been named first-team All-Pro in three consecutive seasons and was named the AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.

That may be true – but realistically, the Saints will have to “run the table” from here on out to have ANY shot at making the NFL Playoffs in 2016..

And yet for the second straight week, disaster struck when rookie kicker Wil Lutz walked on the field. The Panthers wound up with the ball and scored the first points of the game. “I’m going to play it as long as I can”, Kuechly told The MMQB after returning to action last October.

“He’s in the protocol, that’s all I know”, Rivera said.

The Panthers (4-6) won for the third time in four games.

“I’m not the expert when it comes to that, you’re better off talking to a medical professional about that”, Rivera said. “It forces you to come underneath”.

Brees finished with 285 yards passing. This is a defense that thrives on you getting impatient. The team has been outscored 34-3 by Kansas City and New Orleans in the second half. He couldn’t manage to get his team into field goal range.

As of Friday afternoon, Kuechly is in concussion protocol and is now being evaluated by the team’s physician. “I think he’ll be OK, and once he gets out of his emotions and slows down, he’ll be all right”. One of the issues plaguing the club over the last two games has been multiple turnovers. We need to make a 30-yard kick, 40-yard kick. They are, we are strong.

The Carolina Panthers will travel to face the Oakland Raiders (7-2) next Sunday. Wentz has passed plenty of tests in his first National Football League season, getting Philadelphia into the playoff conversation at 5-4 after last week’s home win over Atlanta. “I didn’t know it was his head, but I’m praying for him for a speedy recovery”. Nothing has been determined at this point. With more than one starting offensive lineman out, the Panther offense has struggled to match the continuity shown during the SuperBowl season. They were held to 50 yards rushing on 27 carries against the Saints, a mere 1.9-yard average. “That’s the hard part, but that’s part of this game”.

Linebacker Luke Kuechly suffered an injury with under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Frustrated New Orleans Saints fans just watched their team lose by yet another small margin.