Carolina Panthers fall to New Orleans Saints late, 30-27
Well once again the Carolina Panthers got close but couldn’t close the door against the New Orleans Saints as the Panthers lost 30-27. With the loss the Panthers move to 1-4 on the season. The game as a whole wasn’t bad and honestly the Panthers should have probably won this game. They had opportunities but just couldn’t ever put the Saints away.
While watching the game I kept an open blog going so check it out for the recap of the Panthers week five loss to the Saints.
— All of that love Rivera has gotten this season is going to come to an abrupt end today. Terrible coaching at the end of both halves coast the Panthers this game. They should have beat the Saints. Outplayed them today.
–Final in Carolina: Saints beat Carolina 30-27.
–Coaching staff doesn’t have a clue what is going on. You have a chance to throw a quick out and then at least attempt the field goal. Terrible terrible job of coaching by Rivera. Can’t wait to hear how he explains this one.
–Have I mentioned lately that I hate Ron Rivera right now. That timeout at the end of the half will decide this game.
–:11 second left for the Panthers on third and two.
–Panthers saved by a pass interference call there. But a holding penalty backs the Panthers up a lot.
–Forth down here. I am not feeling good.
–Huge pass Newton to Smith taking the ball to the 45 yard line of Carolina. Need about another 25 yards to get into Mare’s range.
–And that timeout at the end of the second half is really, really, I mean really going to bite Rivera. Wow
–Jeez welp touchdown Saints. Cam Newton has :50 seconds to score.
–Saints are driving right now. Brees has been very good this drive, heck he has been great all game. Panthers defense has to hold them to a field goal.
–Hate that play call on third and short. You don’t need 50 yards just 5 throw it short there.
–Panthers could drive the nail into the coffin here with a touchdown.
–Huge stop on third down there by the Panthers defense. They are playing extremely well right now.
–Big third down for the Panthers a quick three and out would be huge. But Brees converts again. He is automatic on third down.
–Another touchback for Mare. That is the only thing he has done well this season.
–Newton throws a bullet to Greg Olsen for a touchdown. Heck of a throw by Newton fitting that ball into a tight spot there. Olsen is without a doubt Newton’s favorite target in the redzone. Olsen’s third touchdown of the season.
–Roughing the passer give the Panthers a first and goal but false start backs it up. Panthers have to score a touchdown here.
–Love the option offense right now. Who says it won’t work in the NFL?
–What a third down conversion there. Cam Newton rolls the pocket left cuts back right and picks up the first down. What a freaking play. Him and Mike Vick are the only two players in the NFL capable of making that play. First down Panthers when we start up the forth quarter.
–Interception Sherrod Martin off the tip pass. Panthers ball and a chance to take the lead.
–Touchdown Newton he runs and maybe gets some help from the running backs pushing him forward. Now it is 23-20 Saints
–Panthers attempt to run it with Newton on first down but no TD yet.
–Well I take that back. Play reversed down at the one.
–Touchdown Panthers. Saints blitz the house and Newton finds LaFell for the touchdown. 23-20 Saints. They are reviewing the play though.
–Panthers are finally utilizing the running game effectively. Nice drive going here.
–Kasay nails it 23-13
–Wow Saints were 9-12 on third down before that last stop by the Panthers. Kasay on for a field goal now.
–Saints getting the running game going now with Mark Ingram.
–Well we are about to start the second half. Saints get the ball and are up 20-13 thanks to Mr. Rivera.
–Kasay drills it thanks to Rivera. So with the clock ticking down the Saints scrambling to kick a field goal Rivera decides to call the timeout. What’s he trying to do shave some points there?
— Wait are you KIDDING ME! Why did Rivera call a timeout there what an idiot. Merry Christmas Saints have an extra three points because we weren’t lined up right. WOW
–Geez what is going on here. Graham fellow over backwards. He wasn’t even touched there.
–Touchdown Panthers on the option attack. Newton pitches to DeAngelo Williams and he takes it to the house 67 yards. 17-13 Saints
–That is the third personal foul in this game so far. Everyone is getting a bit chippy right now.
–Touchdown Mark Ingram after Panthers fail again to stop Saints on third down. 17-6 Saints
–Saints are driving right now, Panthers defense has to hold them to a field goal.
–One thing I have noticed each and every game the young DT’s have been making more and more plays.
–What a freaking catch by Steve Smith and Roman Harper is a punk. Panthers extra point gets blocked though. 10-6 game now.
–Great play by Godfrey there on the corner route. Knocked it away from Jimmy Graham. Kasay knocks in a 23 yarder giving the Saints the 10-0 lead.
–Call overturned and next play pass interference on Captain Munnerlyn. This could get ugly. Saints moving the ball way to easy.
–There is the red flag. Saints will prolly get this one back.
–And the draw gets the Panthers on third and deep but Sprolles fumbles after Charles Johnson keeps running. Panthers football but may be overturned.
–Panthers defense needs a stop here. Can’t let this game get out of hand early on.
— I hate the Cam Newton draw. He is going to get hurt doing that crap.
–Saints score a touchdown on a quick pass from Brees. Saints up 7-0. Not what you want to start out a game.
–Well that is not a very good start there. Newton throws a pick.
–It’s game time here. Before we start prediction time…. I am feeling good today so let’s just do it Panthers win today. It stays close but Panthers drop New Orleans 31-24.
–Here are a few keys to the game for the Panthers to come away with the victory today.
- Finish in the redzone: The Panthers are averaging 440 yards of offense per game, third best in the league but they are only scoring 22.3 points per game, 17th in the league. They have to capitalize and score touchdowns if they want to beat the New Orleans Saints.
- Stop the run: We all know the Saints love to pass the ball but if they are smart they are going to try to run the ball against the Panthers weak front seven. The team has been giving up 143.8 yards per game, the second worst in the league and will need to try and make the Saint’s one dimensional. If the Panthers can stop the run and make the Saints pass they have a much better chance. The secondary is this team’s best unit right now and that gives the Panthers the best chance for a win.
- Run the football: When Cam Newton throws for over 350 yards the Panthers are 0-3. They need to balance out the offense more and stop relying on the rookie quarterback to do everything. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart are more than capable of carrying an offense but they just need touches which they haven’t gotten. Head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Rod Chudzinski need to go back to the ground game, especially against this average Saints run defense.
–We are inside of an hour until kickoff. Whose fired up for the game?
–Going to be weird seeing John Kasay in the New Orleans Saints black jerseys. Not looking forward to that. I think the Panthers did Kasay wrong this offseason. Guy obviously has something left while Olindo Mare has me less than excited.
–Well here is your list of inactives for the Panthers today: Jimmy Clausen, Mike Goodson, Thomas Williams, Frank Kearse, Josh Thomas, Andre Neblett, Lee Ziemba. Mike Goodson being on the list is a bit surprising. I mentioned earlier this week about the fact that Jordan Pugh and rookie Keloha Pilares were going to return kick this week instead of Goodson. Looks as though Goodson has start to fall out of favor with the new coaching staff.
–One good thing for the Panthers is the injury report is pretty clean this week. Panthers have five guys listed on the report but all are expected to play.
–Welp folks it is about that time. Yes sir, the Carolina Panthers will be kicking off action against the New Orleans Saints in less than three hours. This is the team’s first divisional matchup this season and after a impressive first four games, the Panthers need to start getting a few more wins.
–The stats have been there each in every game as the Panthers have put up huge yardage. The problem is they haven’t gotten the touchdowns they need, instead settling for way to many field goals. Against the high scoring Saints offensive the Panthers will not be able to afford to settle for field goals.
–While we are waiting for the game check out some of the weeks top stories. Seth McConnell wrote the preview for today’s game here, while I wrote a story early in the week about how the expectations for the Panthers have risen and that means they need to win a few more games.
–As always for the most up to date information and updates follow us on twitter @catcraveblog and @taylorbarbour and like us on Facebook.