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Another intense night of angst, anger, elation and relief for Saints fans. Here's how the craziest social media of the moment, Twitter, reacted to every crucial moment of the NFC South showdown between the Saints and the Panthers.
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Minutes Before the Game
Our own Zip Code was at the game, and prior to kickoff he faked Panthers fans into thinking that they had a shot.
Taking a pic with the enemy pic.twitter.com/6pOytSAV9I
— Zip Code (@ZipCode70816) October 30, 2014
RT if you think the @Saints win tonight. #TNF #NOvsCAR pic.twitter.com/I8hYODYuRP
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 30, 2014
Tradition.
"@iLoveMeSomeBey: #GameDay pic.twitter.com/pHY35kMucI"
— ✨Haitian Whodat✨ (@magalie_hunter) October 31, 2014
View from my seat! pic.twitter.com/fGimcEmYUL
— Zip Code (@ZipCode70816) October 31, 2014
"@nfl: .@Saints. @Panthers. Football. Let's go. #TNF #NOvsCAR pic.twitter.com/dVKg7Utt5Z" #WHODAT #BeatThePanthers
— Mary B. Sonnier (@ChefMarySonnier) October 31, 2014
#whodat's, u gotta have . . . pic.twitter.com/QNDVEraDRM
— Saints Memes (@SaintsMemes) October 31, 2014
quick Saints-CAR thoughts while I sit in LA traffic 1. Pass Rush must destroy CAR injured O-line 2. If CAR goes full Gregggg protect Brees
— Ralph Malbrough (@SaintsForecast) October 31, 2014
heeeerrrrrrrrrrrreeeee kitty kitty kitty... heeeerrrrrrrrrrrreeeee kitty kitty kitty... heeeerrrrrrrrrrrreeeee kitty kitty kitty... #whodat!
— Saints Memes (@SaintsMemes) October 31, 2014
Some of us even got a little too excited. Maybe it was Crown Royal tweeting though.
Ingram GOAT
— Tyler Duke (@DukeSBN) October 31, 2014
Not Panthers fans apparently
Bank of America Stadium about two-thirds full for this huge NFC South clash. Charlotte is apparently aleep with excitement. #Saints
— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) October 31, 2014
***
Freak Pick
The Saints offense started the game on fire, quickly driving deep into the Panthers' redzone, Brees then tried to find Kenny Stills for a pass that bounced off the Saints receiver's hands and got intercepted. The road woes seemed to continue and the Who Dat Nation went into full freak out mode.
And a Brees INT already.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
Here we go
— NDCarolina (@HouseOfShanel) October 31, 2014
Aaaaarrrrghhhh!!!!
— Eat Your Popeyes (@heathermaru) October 31, 2014
A bad-luck INTERCEPTION on third down. Pass for Stills batted up in the air, caught by #Panthers DT Dwan Edwards.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
CRAP. It's ok. We gonna shake it off just like Sunday night. Do NOT panic.
— Pheebs (@DatGirlPheebs) October 31, 2014
Wtf!
— donna (@donnakunda) October 31, 2014
DRINK
— Reid (@ReidG75) October 31, 2014
We got two of those vs GB. It happens.
— Matthew (@GeauxDucks) October 31, 2014
We just let them of the damn hook!!!!!
— Latrell Williams (@Raye_100) October 31, 2014
Only 3rd Int for Drew Brees in the red zone in last 3 seasons. 63 TD, 3 INT in that span
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 31, 2014
***
Defense Bows its Neck
Picking up where it left off in the second half on Sunday, the Saints defense rose to the challenge and kept the Panthers at bay. Maybe even more surprising was the ongoing resurgence of Saints cornerback Corey White who was making the plays to get Carolina off the field.
Corey White with an almost INT. Good stop by #Saints as Panthers will punt.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
Denied!!
— CaboWaboDude (@Chad_LeDoux) October 31, 2014
Corey White with good defense on two straight plays?!?! Jesus is returning soon chirren! Stay prayed up!
— Brando Calrissian (@2nd_KOMING) October 31, 2014
Saints defense bails out the offense there...turnover results in NO POINTS
— Steve Geller (@SteveGellerWWL) October 31, 2014
***
You've Got to be Kidding Me!!!
On their very next offensive possession, the Saints started moving the ball again, with Jimmy Graham hurdling former teammate roman Harper and making Harper look foolish. Little did Saints fans know that this drive was about to materialize their worst fears.
On Harper lmfaooooo
— Tosha Renee' (@toshamack_ent) October 31, 2014
WTG #41, Harper!!!
— ⚜Brenda⚜ (@WhoDatCirca1967) October 31, 2014
Haha! RT @AroundTheNFL: Jimmy Graham knows Roman Harper isn’t tackling him in the open field.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
That hurdle was even better because it was over Roman Harper.
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) October 31, 2014
Fullback Erik Lorig who fumbled last week against Green Bay, decided that he'd be the one causing a fumble this week. Bad thing was, it was against his own team, as Lorig accidentally knocked the ball out of a pressured Drew Brees. Nightmare in Charlotte!
Dude. Lorig knocked it out. Omg
— Jody Brees (@JAaron225) October 31, 2014
Recipe to fuckin LOSE
— Nader Mirfiq (@Nader723) October 31, 2014
Wooooowwwwwww
— LJ™ (Saints 4-4) (@_LJ1017) October 31, 2014
DREW. JUST STOP.
— Emily⚜⚜⚜Holly (@whodatholly) October 31, 2014
Why do I put myself through watching these games. Was set for a relaxing Thursday, but nooooo.
— Brandi (@SouthrnGrlRebel) October 31, 2014
2 possessions, 2 turnovers for #Saints. This is why they lose on the road. Turnover margin continues to get worse.Very hard to win this way.
— Lyons Yellin (@LyonsYellin) October 31, 2014
Home Saints and Road Saints are like the old Goofus and Gallant cartoon. "Home Saints are efficient on offense. Road Saints are sloppy ..."
— Shutdown Corner (@YShutdownCorner) October 31, 2014
***
I Got Your Back
Once more, the Saints defense did its job, bailing the offense out and getting the Panthers off the field. Cam Newton chipped in, with inaccurate throws that he sailed over his receivers' hands.
Can Newton out here throwing lasers into the stands. He's a man of the people, I guess.
— 156 Days (@camocards) October 31, 2014
Saints Dodged Another One There
— WeAreTheWhoDatNation (@WATWDN) October 31, 2014
Thank the Lord for our defense. Now could the offense PLEASE stand up!?
— Pheebs (@DatGirlPheebs) October 31, 2014
If you dominate the game but don't dominate the scoreboard you eventually get the shaft. #Saints
— Ralph Malbrough (@SaintsForecast) October 31, 2014
No harm no foul 2 turnovers haven't cost #Saints 0-0 vs #Panthers however left points on the field in 1 drive
— Kristian Garic (@KristianGaric1) October 31, 2014
carolina fails to capitalize on turnovers. That'll prove to be costly. And good work by the @saints D! #WhoDat
— Iowa Who Dats (@IowaWhoDats) October 31, 2014
***
The Breakthrough is Coming
With the game scoreless after the first quarter, the impatience and frustration started rising in the Saints fans ranks. But a breakthrough was on the way.
Horrendous first quarter on offense. Absolutely atrocious
— The Division Leader™ (@jay_gizzle) October 31, 2014
Seriously, no score yet? C'mon #saints! Get in this!! #NOvsCAR #WhoDat
— Melissa B. (@mebbela) October 31, 2014
Alright start fresh.. Turnovers meant jack shit... Let's play ball!!!!
— BELIEVE.... (@ebaudo) October 31, 2014
Some great minds knew that New Orleans would eventually solve the Panthers riddle.
Ingram has 10 carries so far. I like that. It will pay off.
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) October 31, 2014
My feeling is... its just a matter of time, until the offense starts putting up points. -SG #statingtheobvious
— steve gleason (@TeamGleason) October 31, 2014
Lmao I love Steve Gleason
— Anthony Baevis (@bucklezzzman) October 31, 2014
And then, there was that man again.
#Saints get payback. Corey White INT off a tipped ball.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
Finally.
— ⚜ Lindsey ⚜ (@Brock0104) October 31, 2014
Another tip drill INT for Corey White... #saints defense consistently rising to the occasion tonight
— Sean Fazende (@SeanFazende) October 31, 2014
COREY WHITE DONE GOT RIGHT WITH THE LORT AND WITH ME!
— Emily⚜⚜⚜Holly (@whodatholly) October 31, 2014
My mom called that pick before the snap. Yes!
— ALL IS ON (@alleyofsin) October 31, 2014
Corey White making plays! PRAYER WORKS PEOPLE!!!! OOOOOOO I HAVE A TESTIMONY!!!!!!
— The Division Leader™ (@jay_gizzle) October 31, 2014
After the Saints offense had failed to score again, punter Thomas Morstead pinned the Panthers deep in the shadow of their own goal line. New Orleans' defense then produced the turnover that would lead to the Saints first touchdown.
FUMBLE RECOVERY!!!!
— Ashley The Mendie (@bridgitmfansite) October 31, 2014
Look at my cousin JUNYAAAAAH.
— The Mayor (@RHancock19) October 31, 2014
SACKMAN!!!!!!!
— Tari Hohn (@Taritweets) October 31, 2014
Yesssss!!! YESSSSS!!!! YEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!
— Eat Your Popeyes (@heathermaru) October 31, 2014
FUMBLE!! Galette ROCKS Cam Newton with a huge sack and the Saints recover!
— Saints Updates (@SaintsMSU) October 31, 2014
Good call, sir RT @chrisboudy: NOW GIVE IT TO INGRAM
— Matthew (@GeauxDucks) October 31, 2014
Mark Ingram. Six. Touchdown, New Orleans.
— 156 Days (@camocards) October 31, 2014
Touchdown saints #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/GRW0FlVxS8
— DayOne Marketing (@godfather_no1) October 31, 2014
***
Putting Them in a Hole
With the Saints defense doing a number on the frail Panthers offensive line, New Orleans got the ball back with a little over a minute left in the first half. The Saints marched right down the field and scored a touchdown to go up 14-0. Elation in Who Dat Land.
Kenny Stills woke up.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
Stills again on short pass, #Saints now at own 41 with 1:08 left
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
As of now #Saints have run the ball 15 times, run 14 pass plays (including two sacks)
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
Good to see the Saints finally taking advantage of the Panthers damaged O-line. Let's keep it going! #WhoDat
— Big Easy Sports (@Big_Easy_Sports) October 31, 2014
Graham TD.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
— ✨Haitian Whodat✨ (@magalie_hunter) October 31, 2014
Cam Newton halftime QB rating: 15.1. Not swell.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
***
Can You Finish on the Road?
The big bugaboo for the Saints this season is that they hadn't won a game on the road yet. Worse, they had lost seven road-games in a row. Could they close the game out and not let Carolina back from the dead? The second half didn't start so well as the Panthers drove right down the field and close the gap with a Cam Newton touchdown run.
@whodatholly sweet 8lb baby Jesus lol
— Maren (@blsdx7) October 31, 2014
Cam doing Cam things....Time to answer back!
— Big Easy Sports (@Big_Easy_Sports) October 31, 2014
TD being reviewed but will probably be upheld.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
Saints don't contain Cam, that lead is going to be gone by the 3rd quarter
— Ashley The Mendie (@bridgitmfansite) October 31, 2014
#Saints 14, Panthers 7, 10:14 3rd
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
While Saints fans were starting to worry, Dave was calmly going all Tulane grad on us.
This has been a very symmetrical game. Panthers fumble and INT. Saints fumble and INT.
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) October 31, 2014
Saints PI leads to a touchdown. Panthers PI leads to a touchdown.
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) October 31, 2014
***
We Got This!
Brees and the Saints offense, after sputtering a bit, finally put together a scoring drive in which the Saints quarterback did his patented "goal line leap" on fourth and goal to put New Orleans ahead 21-7.
#Saints are going for it.
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
Sean Payton has thrown the book out in this one.
— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) October 31, 2014
TOUCHDOWN BREES!
— Ashley The Mendie (@bridgitmfansite) October 31, 2014
Drew Brees! #DrewDat
— Lindy (@lindyla9) October 31, 2014
THATS MY QUARTEBACK!!!
Saints QB. Drew Brees has heated up, again & Saints O-Line is doing their job effectively run blocking. Brees TD run.. 21-7
— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) October 31, 2014
Touchdown #Saints oh yeah get ready for basketball Carolina fans we got this #GeauxSaints
— sports dude (@americanhabsfan) October 31, 2014
***
We love the D
The previously maligned Saints defense, which is seemingly really improving, showed up again after Carolina threatened to pull within seven points once more. The Panthers were held to only three points, and the Saints maintained a two-score lead at 21-10.
Hell yeah, Keenan #Algiers
— Reid (@ReidG75) October 31, 2014
Great PBU by #Saints CB Keenan Lewis vs. #Panthers Benjamin in end zone. Lewis' standout season continues against top receivers.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
#Saints 21, Panthers 10, 12:57 4th quarter
— Larry Holder (@LarryHolder) October 31, 2014
I love the "D".... Fence!!! #WhoDat
— J-A-M-I-E (@jaccomando78) October 31, 2014
***
Nail in the Coffin
Taking over with 12:57 left in the fourth quarter, the Saints went on a vintage, time-consuming, soul-crushing, bone-rattling, will-bending drive that took about 7:30 off the clock and resulted in Ingram's sealing the win with a rushing touchdown.
I feel like I was having a panic attack! Saints we ain't breaking up but your putting a beating on my health!
— Goldie (@arteenA1) October 31, 2014
Big play to Graham. 27 yard reception
— Saints Updates (@SaintsMSU) October 31, 2014
This game a rare twist. #Saints came in planning to run but realized pass was working better and went with it.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
What a throw in the bucket from Brees to J. Graham for 27 yards. Critical play to get out of trouble. Now run the ball.
— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) October 31, 2014
Ingram's got one big run left in him.
— Reid (@ReidG75) October 31, 2014
There was even a rare Robert Meachem sighting as a receiver, not just a blocker. No matter how much some criticize Meachem being active every game, he is a heck of a blocker in the running game.
#Saints WR Robert Meachem wide open down the middle of the field for first down at #Panthers 19 yard line.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 31, 2014
Brees to Meachem Yasss
— TisaJ1 (@perilinthesea) October 31, 2014
You spelled "season" wrong. RT @sierrabambam Welcome to the game Meach
— Canal St. Chronicles (@SaintsCSC) October 31, 2014
Panthers defense tired!!!!!!
— Latrell Williams (@Raye_100) October 31, 2014
Kill shot #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/BLjuoVCxvG
— DayOne Marketing (@godfather_no1) October 31, 2014
These last few minutes of this game are going to kill me.
— Carolina WhoDat (@lindeeloo_who) October 31, 2014
We need this TD Saints!!!! Remember Detroit!!! #whodat #NOvCAR
— I_Talk_Saints (@ItalkSaints) October 31, 2014
And there it was
Td Ingram!!!!
— Bryant (@bwombat24) October 31, 2014
TOUCHDOWN!!!! INGRAM!!!!
— SaintsUK (@UKSaints) October 31, 2014
Saints closing a game on the road. Dagger shot led by Brees/Ingram/Jimmy G & Meachem. Give Sean P credit- patient tonight with the run 28-10
— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) October 31, 2014
Saints 28 Hello Kitty 10
— ____ (@WhoDat_225) October 31, 2014
Gawd, I LOVE to see Sean & Drew smiling!! #WhoDat! #Saints
— Sweet Caroline (@_CarolinaCT) October 31, 2014
A @Saints 7:30 min drive for a TD when your up in the fourth is awesome! #whodat @UKSaints
— Darren McLennan (@darrensqh) October 31, 2014
Mark Ingram last 2 weeks: 51 rush, 256 yds, 3 TD. Stud. pic.twitter.com/RSmonEKn1O
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 31, 2014
***
First Again
Leading 28-10, the Saints close the game out. It took a while, but since they lost the division lead to the Panthers late in the 2013 season, the New Orleans Saints are once again sitting alone in first place in the NFC South. Quite incredible after their poor start of the 2014 season. But that's the 2014 NFC South for you. Enjoy, Who Dat Nation!
This is our division! #WHODAT
— Mr. WHO DAT Fanatic! (@Adam_Allstate) October 31, 2014
Stadium is emptying pretty fast.....
— SaintsUK (@UKSaints) October 31, 2014
Saints in 1st place and 10 days to recover. Bye bye road losing streak. BOOM!
— Saints Nation Blog (@SaintsNationBlg) October 31, 2014
Such a huge win for the #Saints tonight. Coming home for 3 in a row. #WhoDaNation is back! And in first place!
— PonchyWhoDat (@JohnnealM) October 31, 2014
Panthers are DONE for tonight. It's official y'all. @Saints ARE ON TOP OF THE NFC SOUTH DIVISION! #WHODAT #GEAUXSAINTS
— WHO DAT Cool Breesy (@Steve2duhO) October 31, 2014
Division leaders✌️#WhoDat
— Kyle J. Albright (@paloo95) October 31, 2014
Even some Falcons fans were happy the Panthers lost. Just...cold.
I hope this game puts to rest the notion that the Panthers are THAT much better than the Falcons.
— J. Monique (@Mme_Falcon) October 31, 2014
***
And it's a Wrap!
Saints defeat Panthers 28-10, move into 1st in NFC South. Brees: 297 yds, 2 total TD, Int Ingram: 100 yds, 2 TD pic.twitter.com/8mrK40WwTf
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 31, 2014