The New Orleans Saints were hopeful to end their six game losing streak, but it was not to be on Sunday as the Carolina Panthers got a late touchdown to win 23-22.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Saints started the contest with the football and moved the ball with ease, using the ground game led by Alvin Kamara to get them inside the red zone. However, the Carolina defense stepped up and forced a field goal from Blake Grupe.
After a quick Carolina drive, New Orleans once again moved the ball well, but on a bang-bang play, Chris Olave was hit by a pair of Panthers defenders and lied motionless on the field for a period. He was carted off the field and brought to the hospital with a concussion, but had movement in all of his extremities. This drive also ended in a Grupe field goal to put the Black and Gold ahead 6-0 after the first quarter.
Carolina took the lead early in the second half when Bryce Young found Xavier Legette for a three-yard touchdown to take the 7-6 lead, but the Saints wouldn’t stay behind for long as the offense once again moved the ball into the red zone before Taysom Hill found the endzone to give New Orleans the 13-7 advantage. Carolina added a 48 yard field goal by Eddy Piniero before the half.
Early in the third, the Panthers had a 86 yard scoring drive capped off by a touchdown from Chuba Hubbard to put Carolina ahead 17-13. New Orleans once again moved the ball well, but had to settle for a field goal for the third time as Grupe connected to make it 17-16.
New Orleans regained the lead when Carr found Foster Moreau from 17 yards out but a failed two point conversion kept it 22-17.
After neither offense could get anything going, Carolina had life on a big 3rd down conversion from Legette which led to Hubbard finding the endzone for the second time to give Carolina the lead with 2:18 to play.
New Orleans got to mid field, but couldn’t convert on fourth down as the Panthers get the win at home.
BIG NUMBER: 427
Despite having a strong day on offense with over 400 yards, the Saints failed to snap their losing streak against a NFC South rival.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chuba Hubbard
Hubbard had a nice day for the Carolina offense, rushing for 72 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 15 carries in the win.
UP NEXT: New Orleans will return home to welcome their bitter rival, the Atlanta Falcons, to the Caesars Superdome. Kickoff is set for Noon on Sunday, November 10.
