Panthers Beat Saints 23-20 In Injury Impacted Game
It appeared the Carolina Panthers might be ready for another collapse as Luke Kuechly was carted off the field with a concussion and tears streaming down his face. Their defensive leader was gone while another big fourth-quarter lead was crumbling.
However, on Thursday night the Panthers did just enough to beat the New Orleans Saints 23-20 in a game marred by injuries to key players.
The lead was at 10 when Kuechly went down and players gathered around him as he was carted off the field. Carolina would give up another score, but earn it’s third win in four games.
The Panthers, entered the fourth quarter with a 23-3 lead before injuries began to take their toll. Along with Kuechly, the Panthers lost two-time All-Pro center Ryan Kalil (shoulder injury), top pass rusher Mario Addison (foot injury) and cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest injury) to injuries.
The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a head injury in the third quarter. Saints quarterback Drew Brees who had been held to 171 yards and no touchdowns in the first three quarters, seemed to rally the Saints back to 23-20 with touchdown passes to Brandon Coleman and Coby Fleener.
However an 18-yard reception by Kelvin Benjamin on a third-and-10 with 2:39 left in the game proved pivotal, leaving Brees with 14 seconds to work with on his final drive. He couldn’t manage to get his team into field goal range.
Newton finished 14 of 33 for 192 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn Jr. as the Panthers (4-6) pulled even with the Saints for third place in the NFC South.
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