Final score: Panthers 23, Saints 20
Saints vs. Panthers live scores, highlights, and updates from ‘Thursday Night Football’
Saints’ comeback effort fell just short in the 4th quarter
Third quarter: Panthers 23, Saints 3
Second quarter: Panthers 20, Saints 3
First quarter: Panthers 3, Saints 3
Saints/Panthers highlights
In the first quarter, the Panthers ran a 10-play drive inside Saints’ territory, including nine plays inside the 15. They scored three points.
Carolina wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter, but returned to the game.
Just before the half, the Saints had another field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown for a second week in a row. This TD was called back, but no matter; Carolina scored a touchdown on the next play, anyway.
Saints running back Mark Ingram went back to the locker room in the third quarter, evaluated for a concussion.
Luke Kuechly was carted off the field late in the fourth quarter, with tears streaming from his face. He was evaluated for a concussion.
Before the game
After letting a win slip through their fingers last week against the Kansas City Chiefs, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers aim to take down the New Orleans Saints in a divisional matchup at home on Thursday Night Football.
The Saints also snatched defeat from the jaws of victory last week against the Broncos. The Saints were attempting an extra point to take the lead, but Denver blocked it and returned it for a two-point score — and the win.
The Panthers can make it three wins in their last four games with a victory in Week 11. Newton threw for 261 yards last week and rushed for 54 more, part of his continued effort to keep the Panthers’ offense afloat. The reigning league MVP has continued to anchor his team, accumulating 2,255 total yards in the first half of the season.
One problem for the Panthers, however, is that Newton is a surprisingly close second on the team in rushing yards, despite the fact that he’s on pace for a career-low total. Newton has 261 rushing yards, whereas starting back Jonathan Stewart has only 334 yards on the ground (although it is worth noting that he missed two games with an injury.) Nevertheless, the Panthers will need their ground game to improve if they want to re-enter the playoff picture, an already tall task with them sitting at just 3-6.
The Saints, meanwhile, have had a rather up-and-down season due to their less-than-stellar defense. Despite the presence of a solid pass rush, including Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan, the Saints have struggled on defense, allowing the fourth-most total yards per game and ranking just 22nd in sacks.
On the other side of the ball, however, it has been a much better story. The Saints offense has overpowered opposing defenses this season, leading the league in both passing yards and total yards per game. Drew Brees ranks second in passing yards, but has played in one fewer game than league leader Matt Ryan. The success of the Saints’ passing game will likely play an essential role if New Orleans can secure its fifth win in seven games Thursday.
The game will be airing on both NBC and the NFL Network. It will also be streaming live on Twitter and NBC Sports.
Pregame reading
See More:
