Panthers, ‘D’ back home in romp
By Megan Crotty -- Staff Writer
Posted: 10/19/08 - 10:43:57 pm CDT
http://www.courier-tribune.com/articles/2008/10/21/sports/fs1.txt
CHARLOTTE — After a disappointing loss to Tampa Bay on the road last week, the Carolina Panthers their fans know and love returned to Bank of America Stadium — especially the defense.
The Panthers, going up against the league’s most efficient quarterback in New Orleans’ Drew Brees, stymied the Saints 30-7 to improve to 5-2 on the season.
“As a football team, coaching staff and players, we were very disappointed with the way we played last week,” Carolina coach John Fox said. “It was a challenge when you have a division team come into your house and, as high-powered as they are and as well-played as they are, directed by one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It’s a heck of a challenge and I like the way our guys responded.”
The Carolina defense frustrated the New Orleans offense all day, recovering a fumble, intercepting a pass, sacking Brees once and forcing the Saints to turn the ball over on downs twice.
Cornerback Chris Gamble led the charge with eight tackles, while end Julius Peppers notched the sack, along with two tackles for loss. Tackle Damione Lewis added a forced fumble that safety Chris Harris recovered and cornerback Ken Lucas had the interception.
“It was a clash of two Titans,” Lucas said. “They had the number one offense coming in; we had the number two pass defense, so something had to give today. We had an embarrassing game last week against Tampa, and we knew New Orleans was on fire as far as their offense scoring a lot of points. We knew the secondary was going to be a major challenge for us this week, and we accepted the challenge and went out to play today.”
Brees, who entered the game averaging 8.9 yards per pass with a 71 completion percentage, completed 21 of 39 passes for 231 yards and one score. His stats were aided by a 54-yard pass to Devery Henderson late in the game.
Fullback Mike Karney had the sole score of the day for the Saints on a 1-yard rush to start the second quarter.
The Carolina defense wasn’t the only trouble the Saints ran into in Charlotte. Starting running back Reggie Bush left Sunday’s game with an injury to the same left knee that kept him out of practice earlier this week. Bush injured it on a late first-half punt return, reversing on his run and stepping out of bounds after which he pulled up. The back, who will not travel to the Saints’ game next week in England, finished the game with 55 yards on nine carries and a 3.5 average on three punt returns.
“We are going to look at his meniscus — his left knee a little bit more. The plan is to scope it,” New Orleans coach Sean Payton said. “I’ll probably know something (today). Right now, we’re going to have it evaluated and go from there.”
Eight-year veteran Deuce McAllister had nine carries for 47 yards.
On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Jake Delhomme completed 14 passes for 195 yards — 122 of which went to Steve Smith — and two touchdowns to Smith and DeAngelo Williams.
Running backs Williams and Jonathan Stewart shared the load on the ground with Stewart notching 17 carries for 68 yards and a score and Williams adding 18 carries for 66 yards.
Carolina had a 13-7 lead at the half, but, after forcing New Orleans to punt, notched a three-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 39-yard TD pass from Delhomme to Smith with 12 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.
Less than six minutes later, Brees’ second-down pass was intercepted by Lucas and returned 31 yards to the New Orleans 18-yard line. The Saints challenged the ruling, saying that Lucas was down by contact before the return, but the ruling stood.
Six plays later, Delhomme found Williams, who stretched out his arm into the right front corner of the end zone for the score, giving the Panthers a 27-7 lead with 3:58 remaining in the third quarter.
On the Saints’ ensuing drive, the squad moved to the Carolina 46 on a 25-yard pass from Brees to Jeremy Shockey.
On fourth-and-1 on the 37, McAllister was stuffed by linebacker Thomas Davis for no gain. New Orleans challenged the spot, but it was upheld and Carolina got the ball back.
After the Panthers were forced to punt, the Saints again rumbled into Carolina territory, aided by the 54-yard pass play from Brees to Henderson. On fourth-and-2 at the 3, Peppers stopped Aaron Stecker a yard short and the Panthers got the ball back with 11:27 left in the game.
“That came down to physical fortitude,” Lewis said. “They have a good, strong offensive line. Those guys come off the ball and we had to get our pads up under them and get low. Make those backs have to jump or try to go sideways to get through the hole. Give the linebackers time to get down.”
Carolina responded with a 16-play, 88-yard, 9 1/2-minute drive that ended with a 28-yard field goal by John Kasay.
Calendar
