4 Panthers players who showed out at the Saints in Week 7

Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers QB

All eyes were on Teddy Bridgewater as he made his return to New Orleans after departing in free agency for the Carolina Panthers. The quarterback looked like he had a point to prove and this resulted in one of his more impressive performances of the season.

Bridgewater will always have his critics, but he is perfect for what the Panthers need right now. He was composed in the pocket and showed real presence to get away from a fierce Saints pass-rush that threatened to overwhelm interior protection that was sorely missing the presence of free-agent signing John Miller.

This kept the Panthers in the game for almost its entirety. Bridgewater’s efficiency distributing the football resulted in an 82.1 percent completion percentage, 254 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a 128.3 passer rating. But his attempts for a game-winning drive were thwarted by his pocket collapsing in a crucial third-down that forced Joey Slye to attempt an NFL record 65-yard field goal, which would have been the longest in league history had it not fallen agonizingly short.

Considering how familiar the Saints were with Bridgewater, this was a tremendous outing from a player who is clearly making the most out of a second starting opportunity. The comparisons with Cam Newton are subsiding with every passing week, but it is vital the former first-round pick gets back to winning ways at the earliest possible opportunity against the Falcons on Thursday.