NEW ORLEANS — The Carolina Panthers showed a lot of fight playing at New Orleans Sunday, but a big sack likely cost them a chance to pull off an upset.
New Orleans won 27-24 after a big sack from Marcus Davenport with 2:53 to play.
The Panthers had a third-and-11 at the Saints' 39. Davenport sacked Teddy Bridgewater for an 8-yard loss and Joey Slye's 65-yard field goal was right on line, but only went about 64 1/2 yards.
That allowed New Orleans (4-2) to get possession and run out the clock.
Carolina lost its second straight and fell to 3-4 heading into a nationally televised game Thursday with the Falcons.
New Orleans QB Drew Brees completed 29-of-36 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a 1-yard score. Alvin Kamara ran 15 times for 84 yards and caught eight passes for 65 yards.
Marcus Davenport made perhaps the biggest play of the game, sacking Teddy Bridgewater on third and 11 from the Saints' 39 with 2:53 to play.
Davenport ran a stunt, starting from the right side of the defensive line and retreated a little and rushed up the middle. Panthers running back Mike Davis, 5-9 and 220 pounds, tried to block Davenport, who is 6-6, 265. Davenport ran through the block and tackled Bridgewater.
The Panthers had converted 6-of-8 third down attempts to start the game, but this failure left the Panthers with a fourth and long at its 47. Joey Slye narrowly missed a 65-yard field goal. The attempt was right down the middle and was about one yard short.
