Saints Back on Track, Pound Panthers 34-3
by Dave Cariello on Nov 7, 2010 3:55 PM CST
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Can't be too disappointed with this one. The Saints took a giant step toward the goal of becoming a more consistent football team today when they handily defeated a banged up Carolina Panthers team 34 to 3, sweeping the season series between the division rivals for the first time since 2001. It was one of quite a few firsts for the team this season.
This is great news because so far this year the Saints have made a habit of playing down to the level of teams with less talent (see: Panthers, Cardinals, Browns). That wasn't the case today - unlike their first meeting which the Panthers nearly won - as the Saints controlled the entire game the way we'd all hope and expect.
The defense played great as usual, finishing the game with four sacks, a forced fumble and a Jabari Greer interception returned for a touchdown, their first score of the season. They held Carolina's offense to just 195 total yards thanks mostly to their ability to shut down the Panthers on third down, allowing them to convert only 1/12. Ouch.
Drew Brees looked a little off his game early on but he worked out the kinks eventually, throwing touchdown passes to tight ends Jeremy Shockey and Jimmy Graham, his first of his career. The offense was able to get in a groove, rushing for 165 yards by committee - with the help of Julius Jones, Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts - and dominating time of possession, 34:41 to Carolina's 25:19.
Probably the best news of all is the fact that the Saints have a bye next week because this game took a toll on the team from an injury standpoint. Darren Sharper (tweaked hamstring), Jeremy Shockey (bruised ribs), Malcolm Jenkins (shoulder stinger), Chris Ivory (separated/strained shoulder) and Stanley Arnoux all left the game with injury and will need to be evaluated. Not looking good but the time off should do wonders for this bruised and battered Saints team.
More analysis tomorrow, of course, and our post-game show coming up at 4:30pm Central. Click here to listen!
Use this thread for all of your post-game celebration talk. Make the jump for stats from the game and our open thread roll-call.
Team Stats
| Passing | CP/AT | YDS | TD | INT |
| D. Brees | 27/43 | 253 | 2 | 1 |
| Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
| J. Jones | 6 | 68 | 0 | 54 |
| C. Ivory | 12 | 50 | 0 | 11 |
| L. Betts | 13 | 31 | 1 | 12 |
| C. Daniel | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Receiving | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
| L. Moore | 6 | 77 | 0 | 36 |
| M. Colston | 8 | 65 | 0 | 16 |
| J. Graham | 3 | 49 | 1 | 19T |
| D. Thomas | 4 | 45 | 0 | 22 |
| R. Meachem | 2 | 15 | 0 | 13 |
| J. Shockey | 1 | 7 | 1 | 7T |
| L. Betts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Jones | 2 | -6 | 0 | 2 |
| Fumbles | FUM | LOST | REC | YDS |
| D. Brees | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Brown | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Vilma | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
| G. Hartley | 2/2 | 36 | 4/4 | 10 |
| Punting | NO | AVG | I20 | LG |
| T. Morstead | 5 | 38.8 | 3 | 63 |
| Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| C. Roby | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| Punt Returns | NO | AVG | TD | LG |
| L. Moore | 3 | 5 | 0 | 11 |
| Defense | T-A | SCK | INT | FF |
| R. Harper | 9-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Vilma | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 |
| D. Clark | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Porter | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Shanle | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Greer | 3-1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Brown | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Ellis | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Torrence | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Ayodele | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Charleston | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Giordano | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Hargrove | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Jenkins | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Sharper | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Wilkerson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| U. Young | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Saints Panthers
| Total First Downs | 27 | Total First Downs | 15 | ||
| By Rushing | 9 | By Rushing | 6 | ||
| By Passing | 14 | By Passing | 4 | ||
| By Penalty | By Penalty | ||||
| Third Down Efficiency | 7/14 - 50% | Third Down Efficiency | 1/12 - 8% | ||
| Fourth Down Efficiency | 0/1 - 0% | Fourth Down Efficiency | 1/2 - 50% | ||
| Total Net Yards | 408 | Total Net Yards | 195 | ||
| Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 76 | Total Rushing/Passing Plays (includes Sacks) | 64 | ||
| Average Gain per Offensive Play | 5.4 | Average Gain per Offensive Play | 3.0 | ||
| Net Yards Rushing | 165 | Net Yards Rushing | 127 | ||
| Total Rushing Plays | 32 | Total Rushing Plays | 24 | ||
| Average Gain per Rushing Play | 5.2 | Average Gain per Rushing Play | 5.3 | ||
| Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 2--3 | Tackled for a Loss (Number-Yards) | 0-0 | ||
| Net Yards Passing | 243 | Net Yards Passing | 68 | ||
| Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 1 - 10 | Times Sacked (Number-Yards) | 4 - 39 | ||
| Gross Yards Passing | 253 | Gross Yards Passing | 107 |
Here is the roll call from our open game threads earlier today. Thanks to all who participated.
| Name | # of Posts |
|---|---|
| SaintShark | 107 |
| rustdog74 | 93 |
| BRSaintsFan | 86 |
| iiAndyiiii | 77 |
| Just Some Guy | 72 |
| saintslam | 68 |
| AKAY47 | 63 |
| SaintBevo | 57 |
| stujo4 | 53 |
| metryman | 53 |
| Jay Preece | 48 |
| GodSillY | 46 |
| ungarsfragile | 40 |
| Dave Cariello | 36 |
| HansDat | 34 |
| mattxlegend | 32 |
| SaintsFan-KS | 31 |
| Dang Hu Dat | 24 |
| SaintsFanMD | 21 |
| mississippisaintsfan | 19 |
| Monkey Poop Battle | 11 |
| FrenchFreak | 10 |
| were gonna need a bigger boat | 9 |
| saints-fan-in-miss | 7 |
| natde1016 | 7 |
| nanvinnie | 7 |
| alcoholic_insight | 7 |
| HB-NOLA | 6 |
| BigTMill | 4 |
| born in areacode 318 | 3 |
| Joseph William Stern | 2 |
| LA_No1_SaintFan | 2 |
| cck781 | 1 |
| jon08ban | 1 |
| theprogrammerman | 1 |
| clearlyvague | 1 |
| bandy | 1 |
61 comments
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Comments
they said he went to the hospital during the game on TV too
Superbowl bound!!!...I know! do you?! Go Saints!!
by skinnykinney on Nov 7, 2010 10:28 PM CST up reply actions
34-3 will ramp this team up!
Seattle is struggling and will get ponded another week before they come down to the NOLA to play in our Dome…we will show them who the real 12th man is!!!!!!
The Saints offense wasn't even particularly sharp today
…and yet, we still cleaned their clock. Take away Jones’ one long run, and we averaged only 3.5 yards per carry. Brees was barely above 60% passing (bad for him), and averaged less than 6 yards per pass. That’s what you should expect against a defense as good as Carolina’s, yet they were never really in this game. Stujo called this exactly right before the season: steep decline. Actually, I think they’ve already impacted, and the explosion opened a sinkhole. They’re still falling.
As for the Saints: Brees is right that this team still hasn’t played its best football. The rest of the league should be starting to feel nervous right now.
It was worth the wait.
by MtnExile on Nov 7, 2010 4:21 PM CST reply actions 2 recs
I don't know about the injuries
…I’m as much in the dark so far as anyone. Arnoux and Jenkins both came back and played, so I don’t think they’re anything more than dinged up. Ivory didn’t look badly hurt. Sharper’s injury I didn’t see. That leaves Shockey, and you know he was bound to miss time at some point. But with two weeks off, we have time to get these guys and others healthy. I’m not overly worried at this point.
It was worth the wait.
boom rec'd it
impacted, and the explosion opened a sinkhole. They’re still falling.
Precipitously.
Is your wig squeezing your head too tight, heifer?
Maybe Carolina will beat the Bucs next week.
"In fact with that article from today that had him real lean and everything, I think I’m going to play him at corner this week in place of Tracy Porter."-Greg Williams in refefernce to Sedrick Ellis
I hope not
I am a Panthers fan but I hope they lose/throw their games against the Bucs and Falcons just to help elimate the Saints from divison title and possible wildcard.
Graham
So when Number #80 Graham mocked the Panthers crowd after the touchdown was that sportsmanship? The Saints annoy me more than the other NFC south teams because they and the city were so over-hyped last season it was nauseating.
by Anon5QADEtU4 on Nov 10, 2010 4:46 AM CST up reply actions
No burgers for him/her!
"In fact with that article from today that had him real lean and everything, I think I’m going to play him at corner this week in place of Tracy Porter."-Greg Williams in refefernce to Sedrick Ellis
anyone else nervous
when Brees is running around in the backfield with a three-touchdown lead late in the 4th quarter?
about the only thing I can complain of in this one. Nice wayto go into the bye week.
"Bow Down Before The One You Serve"
Skinned cats
A good spanking on da road.
My wife bought me some Blackout cake from Gambino’s Bakery and a 4 pk of Sam Smith’s Imperial Stout for the LSU victory yesterday. I tried to convince her that the Saints beating the Panthers on the road was deserving of something, but she just gave me a smooch and a “good win, cher”. Oh well, I still enjoyed the win.
"Relax, have a homebrew!"
damn, I haven't had blackout cake in YEARS
is gambino’s anything like mckenzie’s?
by ungarsfragile on Nov 7, 2010 8:46 PM CST up reply actions
I love blackout cake
Not sure how it compares to mckenzie’s. My wife grew up in Chalmette and worked in New Orleans most of her life and always talked about Gambino’s. When they opened up a Joe Gambino’s here in Lafayette, she insisted I tried their doberge and blackout cakes. I’ve been devoted ever since.
"Relax, have a homebrew!"
I wish we could have given you a better game Saints fans
but the Panther offense might be worst the NFL has seen in decades. Good luck catching the Falcons, you guys should have quite the battle coming up.
Thanks, Jaxon.
Appreciate the good wishes.
by CrazyforColston on Nov 7, 2010 7:47 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks Jaxon
Hope your team gets healthy.
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by Dave Cariello on Nov 7, 2010 8:17 PM CST up reply actions
Fox doesnt care
The team has quit and Fox knows he’s on the way out. They might as well try to get a high pick. Hopefully the Falcons and Bucs will finish 1 and 2 in the divison and the Saints do get a wildcard. This Saints team reminds me of the Cowboys and 49ers of the 1990s not in terms of success but in terms of i cant stand them so much i will root for any team that plays against them.
well, with three RBs injured and 2 QBs out, it's hard to have a potent offense
we played well, we have a very good team and we are picking up monentum. But it was clear that injures decimated your offense. And not having Otah is very tough.
If Pro is the opposite of Con, what is the opposite of Progress? Congress!
-Men's Restroom - House of Representatives, Washington, DC
Offense still has it's feelers out
But is improving with every game. Have to give them credit for some of the defenses they have gone up against. I heard a commentator saying the Saints D has been flying under the radar but now being the 4th best in the league (can you even believe that?!) the jig is up.
Breesus Is My Homeboy
by SarahT on Nov 7, 2010 8:33 PM CST via mobile reply actions
Lol I hope I got that saying correct
Jig or gig? Too lazy to look it up. I think it’s actually gig hahaha.
Breesus Is My Homeboy
by SarahT on Nov 7, 2010 8:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I think I saw you yesterday!
Were you wearing a black shirt with a sparkly flor de lis on it and a white Saints hat with 2 horizontal stripes on the side? I saw a lady that looks similar to the one in your profile picture sitting with a guy with cowboys hat. He was the only Cowboys fan I saw in the building so I figured he was with you. If it was you, let your man know I caught him bobbing his head to When the Saints Go Marcing In! LOL
"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." --Mike Tyson
I didnt like Brees in in the 4th.
Let Daniel play the whole 4th against a pretty good D and see what we have. We need the Ravens to take care of the Failcons so were back to square 1.
The base paths belonged to me, the runner. The rules gave me the right. I always went into a bag full speed, feet first. I had sharp spikes on my shoes. If the baseman stood where he had no business to be and got hurt, that was his fault. -Ty Cobb
Back on Track?
They beat a 1-6 team who has the most anemic offense in the league. The Saints will probably finish 3rd in the division and depending on how the Eagles and Bears do they may not even make the playoffs.
Great story!
It could have been better though!
"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." --Mike Tyson
Good scratch on your list, Browns
Appears losing to the Browns wasn’t the embarrassment we all thought. They really pounded the Patriots and really all their loses have been late in the 4th qtr. and close.
When I say WHO DAT U say TWO DAT!!!
No, it's still an embarrassment.
The embarrassment isn’t in the loss…it’s in how we lost. Browns ran the ball down the Patriots throat. Against the Saints, the Browns barely mustered any offense yet still won by double digits.
"Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not 'every man for himself.' And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Otto. I looked 'em up."
But before it was doubly embarrassing
Now it’s only embarrassing.
Week 10 matchup: Bye
Week 10 motto: Bye? Where are you going?
If I had to pick one...
I’d rather lose to them because of trick plays than have them run the ball down our thoats.
Browns and Saints keep it up we may see them one more time.
by saints-fan-in-miss on Nov 8, 2010 8:31 AM CST reply actions
Joking, right?
I know you’re not putting the Browns in the Superbowl, are you?
"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." --Mike Tyson
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