Saints roll the Panthers 42-10 and improve to 13-3

The New Orleans Saints are coming off a come from behind win in Tennessee. A week full of Antonio Brown drama, The Saints are focused on the Carolina Panthers today. All the playoff dominos will fall today, we’re rooting for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. The Saints can control only their game today, they need to take care of business in Carolina and hope for other games to go their way. The lowest the Saints will be the 3 seed and the highest is the 1st.

The Saints will be without Eli Apple, Marcus Williams and Vonn Bell, ³⁄₄ of their secondary will be sidelined. The importance of a bye week for the Saints is immense with all these injuries, although they will be returning both starting guards Andrus Peat and Larry Warford.

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Here is how the game unfolded as if you were there:

FIRST HALF

First Quarter

• The New Orleans Saints will get the ball first and start on the 25 yard line. On the first carry of the game Latavius Murray powers for 13 yards. Drew Brees’s first pass goes for 12 yards from Josh Hill, Saints at midfield. Brees’s 2nd pass is complete to Michael Thomas for a first down, 3 plays 3 first downs. Pro Bowler Deonte Harris gets the carry and runs for 6 yards, Saints at the 30 yard line. Alvin Kamara gets his first carry of the game and runs for a first down. Brees finds Josh Hill for 6 yards and Saints are in the red zone. Alvin Kamara 15 yard rushing touchdown! 7 play, 75 yard touchdown drive.
• NO: 7 - CAR: 0
• Panthers and Rookie Will Grier will get the ball on their 25 yard line. McCaffreys first carry of the game goes for 2 yards. Griers first pass of the game is incomplete and a big clean hit on the QB by Kiko Alonso. On 3rd down Grier is incomplete, Patrick Robinson in coverage. Panthers will punt. 3-and-out.
• Saints will start their drive on the 11 yard line. Drew Brees misses on his first two throws of the drive. Saints will have 3rd and 10, Drew Brees hands off to Kamara and he is one yard short, 4th and 1. Saints will punt.
• On the Panthers first play Cam Jordan bats Griers pass away. On 2nd down McCaffrey rushes for a couple, 3rd and 7 coming. Griers pass is complete to McCaffrey but CJ Gardner-Johnson stops him short. Panthers will punt.
• Saints start with the ball on the 19 yard line. Taysom Hill at QB hands off to Kamara for a 6 yard gain. Brees throws to the outside to Tre’Quan Smith for a first down. Next play Latavius Murray another good run for 9 yards, 2nd and 1. Murray again runs it for the first down. Brees is incomplete to Thomas, Brees takes a big hit from Addison. Kamara rushes for no gain, 3rd and 10, ball on Saints 45. On 3rd Brees scrambles and finds Michael Thomas for 10 yards. Saints move into Carolina territory. Brees sets up the screen to Kamara for a first down all the way to the 31 yard line. End around to Deonte Harris takes it for 7 yards. Brees takes a shot to Michael Thomas in the endzone, Sean Payton is challenging the ruling on the field as pass interference on Carolina. The ruling on the field is CHANGED to pass interference. Saints get the ball on the 1 yard line. Alvin Kamara punches it in for a 1 yard touchdowns!
• NO: 14 - CAR: 0
• Panthers take over at the 25 yard line. Will Grier scrambling for his life runs for 2 yards. Grier is incomplete on 2nd down takes a big hit from DeMario Davis. on 3rd and 8 Grier tries to scramble for the first and will be short. Panthers will punt again.
• Saints will start on their own 10 yard line. Murray with no gain on 1st and Brees is incomplete on 2nd, 3rd and 10 coming. Brees is incomplete. Saints will punt, 3-and-out.

Second Quarter

• Chris Hogan catches the punt on the 39 yard line and they’ll take over. On first down McCaffrey runs for a yard. Grier looks deep to Samuel, pass interference on Marshon Lattimore. Ball on Saints 30. On 2nd down Grier hands off to McCaffrey fumbles the hand off and Malcom Brown recovers, Saints will take over on the 32 yard line.
• Taysom Hill at QB keeps it for 2 yards. on 3rd and 8 Brees is nearly intercepted by Tre Boston, Saints will punt, 3-and-out again.
• Panthers will start on their own 9 yard line. On first down Griers pass is intercepted by former Panther AJ Klein for a touchdown! Pick 6 for AJ Klein.
• NO: 21 - CAR: 0
• Panthers will take over at their own 25 yard line after the pick-six. Panthers face 3rd and 10. Will Grier is sacked by Cam Jordan. Jordans 15.5 sack this season. Panthers will be forced to punt. Will Grier is slow to get up.
• Deonte Harris returns it to the 35 yard line. Murray rushes for 3 yards on 1st down. Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith for a first down. Brees finds Jared Cook for 23 yards. Alvin Kamra rushes for 4 yards and moves the Saints into the red zone. Brees cant find Josh Hill but there is an unnecessary roughness on Tre Boston that puts the Saints inside the 10 yard line. Brees cant connect with Mike Thomas in the end zone but there is a pass interference on James Bradbarry. Ball will be placed on the 1 yard line. Drew Brees finds a wide open Tre’Quan Smith for a touchdown!
• NO: 28 - CAR: 0
• Panthers will get the ball back. Will Grier is doubtful to return with a rib and foot injury. Kyle Allen checks in at QB. Kyle Allen rushes for a first down but offensive holding with back them up. 2nd and 17 Allen hits McCaffrey for a 8 yard gain, their longest play of the day. 3rd and 9 Allen tries to scramble for the first but PJ Williams wraps him short of the sticks. Panthers will punt.
• Saints take over at the 26 yard line. on 1st down Murray rushes for 5 yards. Brees finds a wide open Tre’Quan Smith again for 32 yards. Brees hits Jared Cook in stride for 21 yard touchdown!
• NO: 35 - CAR: 0
• Panthers start their drive with a 9 yard reception to Greg Olsen. - Two minute warning - Allen hits Hogan for a first down. Their first first down today. On 3rd and 6 Allen hits McCaffrey for a 40 yard catch and run. Allen hits McCaffrey again for 4 yards, into the red zone. Allen hits Samuel to set up a first and goal. On 2nd and goal Allen is nearly intercepted by AJ Klein, PBU by Patrick Robinson. on 3rd and goal Allen misfires high to Greg Olsen. Slyes Field goal attempt is good.
• NO: 35 - CAR: 3
• Drew Brees and takes the Saints to halftime.

SECOND HALF

Third Quarter

• Panthers return the opening kickoff to the 31 yard line. Pentalty on PJ Williams helmet to helmet hit. Panthers drive will start on the 47. McCaffrey finds a crease and runs for 11 yards. Into Saints territory. On 2nd down Allen is sacked by Mario Edwards Jr, 3rd and 9. Allens pass is incomplete to Curtis Samuel, great coverage by Marshon Lattimore. Panthers will punt.
• Saints will take over at their own 1 yard line after a great punt and holding on Janoris Jenkins. Murray gives breathing room on a 4 yard carry. Brees finds Tre’Quan Smith for a first down. Murray rushes for 5 yards on 2nd down. On 3rd and 5 Brees finds Kamara but is a yard short, tackle by Donte Jackson. Saints will punt.
• Panthers will take over at the 25 yard line. Allen hits McCaffrey for a 5 yards. Allen fires down field and finds Zylstra for a big gain. Panthers face 3rd and 10 on the Saints 47. On 3rd down Allen misfires and will be forced to punt. Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore were subbed out this drive to put the back ups in.
• Saints take over on the 25 yard line. Murray takes the handoff for 4 yards. Brees finds Ted Ginn Jr for a 10 yard gain and first down. Brees throws complete to Michael Thomas for 6 yards. Saints face 3rd and 4, Brees finds Thomas for the first down. Murray enters panthers territory with a 4 yard run. Brees takes a deep shot to Ted Ginn Jr incomplete. 3rd and 7 Brees finds Taysom Hill for a 45 yard catch and run touchdown!
• NO: 42 - CAR: 3
• Panthers take over at the 25. Allen hits on his first two throws to set up 3rd and 2. Allen hits Wright for a first down. Allen hits McCaffrey for a 17 yard catch. Allen hits Brandon Zylstra for a 40 yard reception, to the 3 yard line. Christian McCaffrey powers it in for a 2 yard touchdown.
• NO: 42 - CAR: 10
• Teddy Time??? Yes sir! Teddy Bridgewater checks into the game.

Fourth Quarter

• To start the 4th quarter on 2nd and 12, Taysom checks in and runs for 2. On 3rd and 10 Bridgewaters pass is complete to Murray for a first down. Pitch to Dwayne Washington loses two. Washington carries for 3 yards. On 3rd down Bridgwater is sacked. Saints will punt.
• Panthers get the ball at the 26 yard line. Allen finds McCaffrey for 5 yards. On 3rd down Allen scrambles and findsBonnafon for 35 yards to the Saints 30. On 3rd down Allen is incomplete to Zlystra. Panthers go for it on 4th and 2 and Allen is incomplete. Saints will take over at the 27.
• Murray caries for 4 yards to start the drive. Murray loses 7 yards on 2nd down. On 3rd down Murray will run short of the chains. Saints will punt again. 6:33 left in the 4th.
• Panthers will take over at their 16 yard line. Allen is complete to White for a 18 yard gain. Mike Davis rushes for a couple and Panthers will face 3rd and 8. Allen finds Zlystra for a first down. Panthers are stop on 3rd and 2 the next chain. Panthers will go for the 4th and 2. Allen hits Ian Thomas for a conversion. Allen hits White for a 12 yard catch to the Saints 21 yard line. Allen finds Zlystra again to the Saints 10 yard line. - Two Minute Warning - Allens pass is intercepted by Janoris Jenkins!
• That'll do it Teddy Bridgewater will take a knee and give the Saints a 42 - 10 victory and improve to 13-3.
• Saints Win! Saints Win!