Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly remains under concussion protocol

Kuechly’s injury was the one of several key ones Thursday night, a list that included Carolina two-time All-Pro centre Ryan Kalil (shoulder) and New Orleans running back Mark Ingram (possible concussion) in the third quarter.

Panthers’ rookie defensive tackle Vernon Butler deflected the low trajectory high into the air and into the waiting arms of linebacker Luke Kuechly, who set off on a joyous 88-yard journey for an apparent touchdown. Kuechly actually scored on the return, but the Panthers were flagged for a block in the back. “I’m not going to get into the speculation of all this stuff”. Saints quarterback Drew Brees had a message for Kuechly as he left the field Thursday.

Last week, the Panthers did something similar, but record-breaking.

Rivera went on to say he hadn’t talked to Kuechly since Thursday night. “It all comes down to you just hope he’s OK”. “I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss”. At this point we might need one of those cable channel shows to do some sort of intervention. Brees passed for 465 yards and four touchdowns, marking his NFL-record 15th career game with more than 400 passing yards.

Brees threw for 285 yards. “I tried to force one that I shouldn’t have, and it was a bad result”. Panthers LB David Mayo ” I definitely think that we all felt for Luke. The team has been outscored 34-3 by Kansas City and New Orleans in the second half.

Carolina defeated New Orleans 23 to 20.

And then the Panthers do win, which has pushed the team’s other problems to the background and brought Kuechly’s injury even more to the fore.

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.

The Panthers, last year’s Super Bowl runners-up who are 4-6 this season, have a West Coast trip coming up with games at Oakland on November 27 and at Seattle on December 4. Then, in the closing seconds of the second quarter, officials ruled Ginn was out of bounds on a pass from Cam Newton.

“That’s how we like it”, defensive end Charles Johnson said. New Orleans is home for its next two games, with the Los Angeles Rams visiting November 27. Their status for Carolina’s November 27 game in Oakland remains uncertain. The Saints took over with 14 seconds remaining, enough for three plays before Michael Thomas was taken down at Carolina’s 43-yard line to end the game. Nothing has been determined at this point.

The Panthers were held to less than 100 yards rushing Thursday night for the third time in the last three weeks. Five in total. A lot of that, the Broncos game, for example, come down to special teams coaching. They had six sacks after getting 11 combined in the first eight games. If he did suffer another concussion, his recovery could take longer.