Saints Move To 0-2 After Loss To Panthers

Instead of falling to a disappointing 0-2 in quarterback Cam Newton’s second year behind center, the quarterback and the Carolina Panthers instead shocked the New Orleans Saints for their first victory of the year, one Panther fans and bloggers alike saw as a sign of things to come.

At Cat Scratch Reader, the guys focused on a bit of a payback aspect to the key NFC South showdown, after the Saints were viewed to have run up the score against the Panthers during the 2011 season’s final week.

A surprising loss to the Carolina Panthers left a sore taste in the mouths of New Orleans Saints fans, who had to taken in a second straight loss to open the 2012 season.

Most notably, the defense bore much of the blame in the eyes of the bloggers. Much of the defense was called out as being out of position and simply not ready for the Panther attack.

Carolina came back with three-straight touchdown drives to blow the game open. The Saints recovered to pull within 28-20 in the fourth, but the Panthers answered immediately with a 6-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a Newton touchdown run that built the lead to 35-20.

The Saints closed to 35-27 late, but were unable to recover the onside kick. New Orleans did get one last chance, but Brees threw another interception.

Smith had to be carted to the locker room where the training staff went to work getting him fluids. Shortly after, he returned to the sideline to rejoin the team.

Smith was suffering from a sore knee during the week leading up to the game, which caused many to believe that it was the culprit in him leaving the game today. It has been fine, however, and he is hoping to get back in the game soon.

I’m tired of seeing ‘Dancing With the Stars’ populated with ex-wide receivers displaying gazelle-like builds, and lithe limbs. I want more Mike Tolbert, who’s with me?

Side judge Brian Stropolo’s Facebook page confirms his allegiance to the Saints and he’s been replaced by an alternate official who travels with the crew, according to this ESPN report.

ESPN contacted the league Sunday morning so the NFL would be aware of Stropolo’s allegiance to the Saints, of which the league was previously unaware.

The New Orleans Saints head east to take on the Carolina Panthers in their Week 2 matchup this Sunday, as both squads look to avoid starting the season in a 0-2 hole.

The Saints ran into a buzzsaw in Robert Griffin III and the Redskins last week, while the Panthers put up a lackluster performance against the Buccaneers down in Tampa. Who’s going to bounce back? You’ll just have to tune in and find out.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco foresees a stiff test for the Saints on the road, giving Carolina the edge in a shootout that he sees finishing in a 37-31 final. Prisco believes that being at home will give Newton just enough of a boost for the Panthers to avoid starting the season 0-2.

The experts at ESPN are a bit torn between these two teams as five of their NFL analysts have picked the Saints, while another four have taken the Panthers.

Oddsmakers opened up the Saints as 6.5-point favorites. Bettors obviously were not so impressed with New Orleans’ opening performance, as the Saints are now favored at most sites by only 2.5 to 3 points.

The over-under sits at 51. In New Orleans’ last five games, the total has gone over every time, but eight of the last nine Saints-Panthers games in Charlotte have come in under the total. In the last 10 games between the two teams, New Orleans is 6-4 straight up, but the Panthers are 7-3 against in those same games.