NEW ORLEANS — The Carolina Panthers lost to the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans Sunday after a close game. FINAL SCORE: 27-24, Saints.
The Panthers were looking to make a comeback this week, after breaking their three-game winning streak last Sunday with a 23-16 loss against the Chicago Bears.
Drew Brees passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns without two top receivers and the quarterback rushed for another score to lead the Saints to their victory over the Panthers.
The Panthers had driven across midfield in the final minutes when Marcus Davenport’s sack of Teddy Bridgewater led coach Matt Rhule to send out kicker Joey Slye for a 65-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-19. The kick fell just short of the crossbar. Former Brees backup Teddy Bridgewater passed for 254 yards and two touchdowns for Carolina.
Speaking after the game against the Saints, Panthers Head Coach Matt Rhule acknowledged they needed to make one more play in the fourth quarter, after ending the third quarter on a 24-24 tie.
"We were not able to make that play at the very end," Rhule said.
For Panthers Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the game had a personal element — playing against his former team. Bridgewater had served as backup to Saints Quarterback Drew Brees during his time on the team, then faced off against him Sunday in New Orleans.
Speaking after the game, Bridgewater said it was a tough loss but they have to look ahead.
"That was a tough one to have get away from you," Bridgewater said. "We have a short week, and we have to hurry up and put this one to bed."
Now coming off back-to-back losses, the Panthers will face the Atlanta Falcons Thursday night in Charlotte. The Panthers beat the Falcons when they played October 11, leading to the firing of the Falcon's now-former head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.
Brett Martel with the Associated Press contributed to this report.
