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Week 7 Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 7, Carolina Panthers 30
What you need to know
| New Orleans Saints |
The Saints may have lost more than a conference game in their blowout loss to Carolina. Reggie Bush limped into the locker room at halftime with a reported knee injury and did not return. Initial reports are that he'll miss 2-4 weeks. New Orleans remains winless on the road with a scheduled home game next week in London, England, but won't play in the Superdome until Thanksgiving.
Drew Brees had a tough afternoon against the fired up Panther defense. While he spread the ball around to ten different receivers, the pass rush affected his accuracy. He failed to find the end zone for the first time this season, and after four straight 300 yard passing games he only threw for 231.
Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey returning to the lineup was not enough to make up for the loss of Reggie Bush. Colston played with padding on his surgically repaired thumb, and while he was targeted three times, two passes bounced off his hands and a third pass was intercepted. Shockey left the game briefly after his first reception, and later fumbled the ball back to Carolina. Still, he led all Saints' receivers with five receptions. Deuce McAllister had nine carries for 47 yards, but New Orleans was playing from behind most of the game. Twice in the second half they failed to pick up short yardage on fourth down and turned the ball over. While Bush was in the game he ran nine times for 55 yards and caught one pass for five yards.
The Saints' defense was unable to contain the Panther running game when they needed to and were unable to force a turnover. They sacked Delhomme once, but he usually had plenty of time to throw. Since taking over as coach, Sean Payton is now 0--15 when his team is trailing in the fourth quarter.
| Carolina Panthers |
Carolina got back to doing what they do best - running the ball and playing great defense - and found a way to rebound after a lopsided loss in Tampa last week. The Saints came to town with a potent passing attack but the Panthers were more than up for the challenge. Julius Peppers registered a quarterback sack, forced a fumble, and in the fourth quarter led a goal line stand at their own one yard line.
Carolina was able to move chains running the ball and completed passes off play action. DeAngelo Williams and rookie Jonathan Stewart each ran for 68 yards and each had a touchdown. Stewart score on an 18 yard run and Williams scored on a four yard pass. Jake Delhomme, now 7 -- 2 against his former team, completed 14 of 22 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. The Panthers held a six minute advantage in time of possession.
Steve Smith caught six passes for 122 yards, including a spectacular 39 yard touchdown grab in the end zone between two defenders. Mushin Muhammad added three catches for 43 yards. John Kasay kicked three more field goals and is now 14 of 14 this season.
Early in the fourth quarter, after a goal line stand at their one yard line, Carolina was able to burn nine and a half minutes off the clock with a 16 play, 88 yard drive which killed any chance the Saints might have of staging a comeback.
What you ought to know
| QB Drew Brees, Pass: 21 - 39 - 231 - 0 TD / 1 INT |
Brees had a rough afternoon against the Panther defense. He had three passes knocked down, two more dropped, and was the focal point of a blistering pass rush. He was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season and threw for 231 yards after four straight 300 yard games. He also threw one interception on a pass intended for Colston.
| RB Reggie Bush, Rush: 9 - 55 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Bush was off to a decent start in this game, rushing nine times for 55 yards and catching one pass for five yards. He returned three punts with limited success as Carolina managed to keep him in check. On his last return, just before halftime, he didn't pick up much yardage, but he proved to be elusive and slipped a few tackles running back and forth trying to break it for a touchdown. When he went finally went out of bounds he suddenly started limping.
Bush had been nursing that same knee during the week due to "swelling and soreness." He suffered the original injury in the opening day win over Tampa Bay and has been dealing with it ever since. He missed the last four games last season with posterior ligament damage in the same knee, but that set back was reportedly unrelated to this current injury.
| RB Deuce McAllister, Rush: 9 - 47 - 0, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (3 targets) |
McAllister was again the bruising battering ram in the middle of the line, but after Bush left the game New Orleans looked like a different team. It's hard to know if McAllister is ready to take on a larger share of the offense if Bush were to miss multiple games. He was stopped short on a fourth and two run (although the referees' spot was challenged) and he was the decoy when Karney ran for the only Saints' touchdown. In the fourth quarter, McAllister again was the decoy on fourth down at the Carolina two yard line when Julius Peppers tackled Stecker short and Carolina took over on downs.
| RB Aaron Stecker, Rush: 2 - 10 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stecker saw limited duty in the second half after Reggie Bush left the game.
| RB Mike Karney, Rush: 1 - 1 - 1, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (2 targets) |
One play after McAllister dragged tacklers to the one yard line Karney vultured his touchdown on a misdirection play.
| RB Pierre Thomas, Rush: 1 - 2 - 0 |
Thomas got into the game in the fourth quarter and carried once for two yards. He also returned four kickoffs for a 27 yard average.
| WR Devery Henderson, Rec: 3 - 80 - 0 (6 targets) |
Unfortunately, Henderson was unable to maintain his 32 yard per catch average but did lead his team with 80 yards on three receptions.
| WR Lance Moore, Rec: 3 - 10 - 0 (5 targets) |
Moore was targeted in possession situations and his longest gain was only four yards. On the positive side, it's good to know that even with Colston returning to the lineup Moore still has a place in this offense.
| WR Robert Meachem, Rec: 1 - 9 - 0 (3 targets) |
The former number one draft pick is still trying to find his role in the offense. He was only targeted in the second half, but one key incompletion came on a third down play which he bobbled while going out of bounds.
| WR Marques Colston (3 targets) |
Colston returned to the lineup for the first time since the opener and played with his left hand bandaged and extra padding around his surgically repaired thumb. The first two passes bounced off his hands and one was nearly intercepted. Timing was clearly lacking on his third target as Ken Lucas intercepted the pass. Colston was not targeted in the fourth quarter.
| WR David Patten |
Inactive for the game.
| TE Jeremy Shockey, Rec: 5 - 50 - 0 (7 targets) |
Obviously Drew Brees was glad to get Shockey back on the field as he caught five passes to lead all receivers and also lead the team in targets. After his first catch he left the game briefly but quickly returned. He also lost a fumble off a TE screen when Julius Peppers caught him from behind and chopped the ball loose. He's a little rusty but the Saints are a much more dangerous team when he's healthy.
| TE Billy Miller, Rec: 4 - 56 - 0 (5 targets) |
Three of Miller's targets came in the fourth quarter.
| TE Mark Campbell, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (1 targets) |
With Shockey returning to the lineup Campbell was relegated to third string. He was targeted once in the third quarter.
| PK Taylor Mehlhaff 0 - 0 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 1 points |
He did not attempt a field goal but converted his only extra point.
| NO Rush Defense |
The Panthers rushed for 143 yard and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. The Saints were unable to stop Carolina on a long sustained drive which ate up most of the fourth quarter.
| NO Pass Defense |
Carolina's ability to run the ball set up play action passes. Even though Delhomme only attempted 22 passes he completed 14 for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Smith was the biggest threat, gaining 122 yards and catching a 39 yard TD.
| QB Jake Delhomme, Pass: 14 - 22 - 195 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - 8 - 0 |
After throwing three interceptions and zero touchdowns one week ago Delhomme rebounded to throw two TD passes for the third time in four games. He spread the ball around but mainly threw off play action. His favorite target was Steve Smith but he's equally comfortable throwing to Muhammad.
| RB DeAngelo Williams, Rush: 18 - 66 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 1 (3 targets) |
Williams scored a touchdown on a short four yard pass and also gained 68 yards on the ground. He is dividing the rushing responsibilities with Stewart and this remains a RBBC.
| RB Jonathan Stewart, Rush: 17 - 68 - 1, Rec: 1 - 3 - 0 (1 targets) |
Stewart scored a touchdown on a well blocked 18 yard run off right tackle. He gained 68 yards on the day but he continues to divide the rushing duties with DeAngelo Williams. He did not, however, have to return any more kickoffs. Last week he was dinged up on the opening kickoff and was only able to carry six times. Mark Jones has taken over both punt and kickoff duties.
| RB Brad Hoover, Rush: 1 - 1 - 0, Rec: 1 - 4 - 0 (1 targets) |
The popular blocking back caught one pass for four yards and gained one yard on his only carry.
| WR Steve Smith, Rec: 6 - 122 - 1 (8 targets) |
Smith is an electrifying receiver capable of breaking any pass for a touchdown. He easily led all receivers on the day with six grabs for 122 yards; although he dropped a 25 yard pass in the second half when he was wide open that would have padded his stats. It must have been too easy. He scored a touchdown on a 39 yard pass into the end zone even though he was well defended by both Roman Harper and Randall Gay. Somehow the pass got through and Smith made the catch as he was falling to the ground.
| WR Muhsin Muhammad, Rec: 3 - 43 - 0 (6 targets) |
Despite tight coverage, Muhammad made three key grabs, including a juggling catch for a first down. He is still the perfect compliment to Steve Smith and his presence also helps the rushing attack.
| WR Dwayne Jarrett, Rec: 1 - 13 - 0 (1 targets) |
The former number one draft choice caught one pass in the first quarter for 13 yards.
| WR Mark Jones |
Jones has taken over both kickoff and punt return duties.
| WR D.J. Hackett |
Inactive for the game.
| TE Jeff King, Rec: 1 - 6 - 0 (1 targets) |
In limited duty King caught one pass in the third quarter for six yards.
| PK John Kasay 3 - 3 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 12 points |
Kasay was good on field goals from 39, 48, and 28 yards and is now perfect on the season, 14 for 14. He also made all three extra points.
| CAR Rush Defense |
Even though the Saints averaged 5.2 yards on 22 carries, Carolina denied New Orleans twice on fourth down runs and also forced them to punt twice after they had third and two. They were stingy when they had to be, although they gave up a rushing touchdown.
| CAR Pass Defense |
Brees had thrown for at least 300 yards in four straight games but only threw for 231. The Panthers also held him without a TD pass for the first time all season and picked him off once. Julius Peppers registered a sack, knocked down a pass at the line, and forced a fumble.
