Week 4 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 18, Carolina Panthers 21

What you need to know

New Orleans Saints

RBs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister were held in check on the ground, managing just a combined 61 yards rushing. McAllister did score the first touchdown for New Orleans, but Bush fumbled in the red zone for the only turnover of the game.

QB Drew Brees had impressive numbers (28-38-349-1-0), but he focused mostly on short and intermediate passes to move the chains, rather than attempting bigger plays and to stretch the field.

WR Marques Colston continued to have the hot hand, catching an 86 yard pass in the final two minutes to try and spur the Saints to a comeback victory. The catch gave him six on the day for 132 yards and a score.

TE Ernie Conwell was the most targeted Saints’ receiver with nine balls coming in his direction. That is most noteworthy in that Conwell did not have a single catch this season before Week 4.

Carolina Panthers

WR Steve Smith is still not 100%, but he can still produce at a very high level. He caught ten passes for 87 yards and a touchdown, and that does not include a 22 yard catch that was overruled on video replay. Smith accounted for over half of QB Jake Delhomme’s production (19-29-169-2-0), as he was content to throw shorter passes to the sure handed Smith and WR Keyshawn Johnson.

Johnson caught six passes, the first of which put him over 10,000 career receiving yards. Johnson is only the 26th NFL receiver to exceed that mark.

RBs DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams continue to fight for playing time. Foster had just 34 yards rushing on ten attempts before the final period, where he broke a 43 yard touchdown run to extend the lead and put him over 100 yards rushing for just the fourth time in his career. Williams remains more of a change of pace running back for now, as he exploded for 31 yards on his first carry but took seven more carries to double that total.

WR Drew Carter scored the other Carolina touchdown on a four yard pass in the fourth quarter.

What you ought to know

QB Drew Brees, Pass: 28 - 38 - 349 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0

Brees had good numbers by the end of the game, but he was not really setting the world on fire as a passer. He connected with ten different receivers, but none of his receivers had a reception over 20 yards until the waning moments of the game. Reggie Bush did manage a 32 yard catch in the first half, but all of that came from Bush’s running after the reception, not via Brees’ prowess.

The final drive of the game was a quick strike to WR Marques Colston for an 86 yard touchdown, the only TD pass of the game for Brees. It moved him over the 300 yard plateau, but again not much of his performance was awe inspiring. The Saints’ passing game was very much about ball control and short to medium passes, with the occasional chance at breaking a long gain.

RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 11 - 22 - 0, Rec: 4 - 48 - 0 (6 targets)

Bush was very ineffective as a rusher; picking up just eight yards on six first half carries. He also appeared to have lost the handle on the ball in the second quarter, which was later verified by a successful replay challenge by the Panthers. He added 14 more yards rushing on five second half attempts.

Bush was much more effective as a receiver, catching four of six targets for a combined 48 yards. He broke a 32 yard catch and run in the second quarter, then added a 14 yard catch in the last period.

RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 11 - 39 - 1, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

McAllister had a quiet game, rushing for just 23 yards on seven carries in the first half. After adding eight more yards on two carries in the third, he repeated those numbers in the final period. Fortunately for the Saints, his final carry was for a three yard touchdown.

McAllister also caught two passes for 11 combined yards, but a three yard catch was nullified due to a penalty.

RB Aaron Stecker, Rec: 3 - 15 - 0 (3 targets)

Stecker was used solely as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught three passes in the second and third quarters, picking up a combined 15 yards.

RB Mike Karney, Rec: 1 - 0 - 0 (1 targets)

Karney caught one short pass for no gain in the third quarter. It was his only touch of the football all day.

WR Joe Horn, Rec: 5 - 63 - 0 (8 targets)

Horn caught five out of eight passes that came to him, picking up a total of 63 yards and four first downs. The catches all ranged from six to 17 yards in length, as Horn ran mostly under and middle routes. He later added a two point conversion reception in the final minutes of the game.

Horn also became just the second New Orleans Saint to have 500 career receptions (Eric Martin).

WR Marques Colston, Rec: 5 - 132 - 1 (6 targets)

Colston had a quiet first half, catching just one pass for 12 yards and a first down in the first quarter. He was targeted in the end zone before halftime, but the ball was batted away by DB Richard Marshall. Colston picked up the pace in the second half, catching all four balls that sailed in his direction, starting with two passes for 14 total yards in the third quarter.

Colston added a 20 yard catch in the fourth quarter before his biggest play of the day (and his career to date). He caught a pass from QB Drew Brees at about the Saints’ 45 yard line and then accelerated away from four Panthers’ defenders. Colston out ran them for 55 yards to complete an 86 yard touchdown reception. The most interesting part of the play was that Colston was not laboring at all to stay ahead of the defense – he almost appeared to be coasting to the end zone. His ability to separate only heightens his already lofty value.

WR Terrance Copper, Rec: 2 - 30 - 0 (3 targets)

Copper, the former Dallas Cowboy, caught two passes for 30 total yards. The receptions came on three targets, all in the first half. He also returned one kickoff for 17 yards.

WR Lance Moore, Rec: 1 - 10 - 0 (1 targets)

Moore caught one ball for 10 yards and a first down in the second quarter. He was also used as a punt returner.

TE Ernie Conwell, Rec: 5 - 37 - 0 (9 targets)

Conwell was the most targeted receiver of any Saints’ player. That is rather remarkable; as he had not caught a single pass this year coming into Week 4. Conwell took advantage of the chances, catching five passes for 37 total yards. All but one of the catches was less than ten yards, with the longest going for 15 yards and a first down.

TE Mark Campbell, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets)

Campbell caught one pass for six yards in the third quarter. It was his only target of the game.

PK John Carney 1 - 2 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points

Carney connected on a 31 yard field goal in the second quarter, but later missed a 43 yarder wide right just before the half. It was his first missed field goal after ten successful tries this season. Carney also made one extra point, but was not needed after the second Carolina touchdown as they went for a two point conversion.

NO Rush Defense

Carolina had just one bid run before the fourth quarter, a 31 yard run by RB DeAngelo Williams early in the game. Late in the game, however, RB DeShaun Foster was able to not only pick up a key first down but also break free and dash for a 43 yard touchdown to make it a two score game and dash most hopes for a comeback. That carry gave Foster 100 yards on the day.

NO Pass Defense

The Saints held WR Steve Smith to under 100 yards and kept Carolina from hitting a deep pass, but they also did not put much pressure on QB Jake Delhomme. They forced zero turnovers and allowed two passing touchdowns, as the Panthers moved the chains on short and medium passes all afternoon.

QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 19 - 29 - 169 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - -3 - 0

Delhomme targeted his main receiver, WR Steve Smith, early and often. He connected with the Pro Bowl pass catcher ten times for 87 yards, which are both more than 50% of Delhomme’s production. Smith also recorded one of the two touchdown passes Delhomme managed in Week 4. Needless to say, Delhomme was rather pleased to once again have Smith back and playing after missing the first two games of the season.

The Panthers and Delhomme were content to work underneath and short passes, trying for 10 to 20 yards at a time. Only a few passes even flew more than 20 yards, with the longest going towards WR Drew Carter and falling incomplete. Delhomme helped the Panthers control the game and move the chains all afternoon, but it was not in spectacular fashion by any means.

RB DeShaun Foster, Rush: 16 - 105 - 1, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (3 targets)

Foster had an inauspicious beginning in Week 4, losing ten yards on his third carry of the game. After getting hit by the first defender for a short loss, he made a very poor decision to run backwards and made a bad play worse. He managed to fight back to a positive total before halftime, registering 34 total rushing yards on 10 carries. Foster was not used as a rusher in the third quarter, but later added six carries on the final two drives of the game. Foster intended to just turn the corner and fight for a first down on his last carry, but the Saints did not wrap him up and he broke free for a 43 yard touchdown run. That put him over 100 rushing yards for just the fourth time in his career.

Foster was also targeted three times, but only one was catchable. He reeled that one in for six yards in the first quarter.

RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 8 - 62 - 0, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (1 targets)

Williams is still being used as a change of pace running back, spelling Foster and sometimes trying to kick start the Panthers on offense. He broke a 31 yard run on his first carry of the day, but then had just one more rush (for no gain) before the fourth quarter. He was rather effective in the final period, gaining 31 yards on six carries and adding a nine yard catch.

Williams continues to also serve as a kickoff return man.

RB Brad Hoover, Rush: 2 - 3 - 0

Hoover had two carries and was a non-factor in the game.

WR Steve Smith, Rec: 10 - 87 - 1 (13 targets)

Smith looked very much like his normal self, as he caught multiple passes and gained appreciable yardage after the catch. He grabbed ten balls on the afternoon, catching every pass that came his way until late in the third quarter. He did not put up a long gainer, as all of his catches ranged from three to 22 yards. The 22 yard catch was nullified by a challenge, therefore making his 17 yard catch in the fourth the longest on the day.

Smith scored the first Carolina touchdown in the first quarter, as QB Jake Delhomme hit him quickly after a no huddle snap to prevent officials from reviewing WR Keyshawn Johnson’s catch on the previous play. Smith also made a spectacular grab near the goal line in the first quarter, but was ruled to have come down on his elbow out of bounds before his second foot hit in bounds. He lost a 22 yard catch due to the official video review of the play.

WR Keyshawn Johnson, Rec: 6 - 63 - 0 (7 targets)

Johnson had a solid game as a receiver, catching all but one of the balls that came his way in Week 4. Only a tipped ball prevented him from having a perfect afternoon, as the deflection prevented him from making any attempt at the catch. Johnson gained between five and 15 yards on each catch, and was also able to gain five first downs on the six catches. He caught at least one pass in each quarter.

Johnson’s first catch of the game gave him over 10,000 career yards receiving, making him only the 26th player ever to reach that milestone.

He was also fortunate on his second catch, as the Panthers were able to hurry the next play before officials could review the play. It was even better for Carolina since WR Steve Smith scored on that no huddle play.

WR Drew Carter, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (2 targets)

Carter scored the second touchdown of the game for Carolina on a short pass of four yards from QB Jake Delhomme early in the fourth quarter. Carter crossed routes with WR Keyshawn Johnson and was wide open in the corner of the end zone for the score.

Carter continues to be the deep threat for the Panthers, as he was targeted on a deep pass in the third quarter that sailed about 35 yards before DB Mike McKenzie batted it away.

TE Michael Gaines (2 targets)

Gaines was targeted on two short passes, one each in the first and third quarters, but both fell incomplete. It appeared that Gaines had hurt his knee on the second target, and he did not return to the game after that play.

TE Kris Mangum (1 targets)

Mangum had one pass thrown in his direction – a 15 yard ball that floated out of bounds in the second quarter. Mangum had little to no chance on the pass, and was not a factor the rest of the way.

PK John Kasay 0 - 0 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 3 points

Kasay made all three of his extra point attempts.

CAR Rush Defense

RBs Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister were kept in check in the running game, holding them to 22 combined carries for just 61 total yards. They did allow a touchdown to McAllister, but they did manage to force a fumble from Bush, the only turnover of the game.

CAR Pass Defense

Carolina held the Saints out of the end zone via the air for over 58 minutes, then allowed New Orleans a chance to get back in the game when they lost containment of WR Marques Colston and gave up a huge 86 yard touchdown in the final two minutes. They managed just one sack and no turnovers, as QB Drew Brees picked them apart for over 300 yards and completed over 70% of his passes.