Game report!
Updated
Carolina gave New Orleans an almighty scare at the end of that one.
The Panthers were able to limit Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram in the run game but Drew Brees enjoyed huge gains in the air. Brees ended the day with two touchdowns and 376 passing yards.
Carolina managed to get going offensively in the second half but scored just one touchdown in four trips to the red zone. Graham Gano’s field goal miss in the first quarter also proved costly.
Thanks for your company, bye!
Final: Panthers 26-31 Saints!
Drew Brees takes the knee and the New Orleans Saints progress through to the divisional round next weekend to face the Minnesota Vikings.
What a finish that was!
Cam Newton is sacked on fourth down and the Saints will win this one 31-26.
Updated
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 00:11 4th quarter
Incomplete to Devin Funchess in the end zone. This is the ballgame. 4th and 23.
Now the officials say there should be a 10-second run-off following the grounding call. 24 seconds remain. It’s 3rd and 23.
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 00:34 4th quarter
Newton gets flagged for intentional grounding under pressure and unable to find a receiver. Carolina is now at the 34 yard line.
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 00:46 4th quarter
Carolina gets a first down on a holding penalty. They’re at the 21 yard line. The Panthers have no timeouts.
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 0:52 4th quarter
Three quick completions move the Panthers to the Saints 26-yard line. It’s now 2nd and 10.
Updated
Interception Carolina! Panthers 26-31 Saints, 1:51 4th quarter
Brees can’t find anyone open and Mike Adams makes the pick to give Carolina the ball at their own 31. Here we go.
The Saints are going for it! This is the game right here.
Panthers 26-31 Saints, two-minute warning 4th quarter
The Panthers stop the Saints short. It’s 4th and 2 and Carolina will get the ball back with around two minutes remaining.
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 2:27 4th quarter
The Saints have another third down. This is the biggest play of the game so far. Can Carolina stop New Orleans?
Panthers 26-31 Saints, 2:30 4th quarter
The Saints get the ball back. Mark Ingram gets stuffed on second down to bring up 3rd and 6. This is a big play with time running out. Brees finds Michael Thomas on the left sideline to get a new set of downs. The Saints have the ball at the 50. Carolina uses their second timeout. They have one left.
McCaffrey’s 56-yard touchdown:
THERE GOES @RUN__CMC!
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2018
56-YARD TOUCHDOWN! #CARvsNO #NFLPlayoffs
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/CS6y8jdNlw
Touchdown Carolina! Panthers 26-31 Saints, 4:09 4th quarter
Newton connects with rookie running back Christian McCaffrey for a catch and run 56-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-26. This game isn’t over just yet..
Panthers 19-31 Saints, 4:44 4th quarter
Cam is back in the game and gets the Panthers to midfield. There’s some suggestion that the NFL’s concussion protocol wasn’t followed correctly after the last drive, or that he wasn’t evaluated at all.
Newton never went to the locker room for an evaluation, so either he wasn’t evaluated correctly under the new system or wasn’t evaluated at all https://t.co/ROgurGq9so
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 8, 2018
Updated
Touchdown New Orleans! Panthers 19-31 Saints, 5:08 4th quarter
Alvin Kamara gets his first postseason touchdown on a two-yard run. The Saints are back up by 12 and time is running out for Carolina.
Panthers 19-24 Saints, 6:43 4th quarter
Cam is shown on the sideline with an icepack on his head. He did enter the medical tent but is reportedly cleared to play on. The Panthers are suggesting the visor attached to his helmet made contact with his eye on that big hit during the last series.
Cam Newton has been evaluated for a concussion and cleared.
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 8, 2018
On the field, Brees throws a monster pass to Michael Thomas for 44 yards to move New Orleans to the Carolina five. It’s 1st and goal.
Updated
Panthers 19-24 Saints, 8:10 4th quarter
The Panthers can’t convert on third down and so are forced to punt. Michael Palardy boots it downfield but Tommylee Lewis makes a nice return. The Saints will takeover from their own 38.
Cam Newton may enter the concussion protocol after that hit. Let’s see how this unfolds.
Panthers 19-24 Saints, 9:12 4th quarter
Cam keeps the ball on first down for three yards and is then under all kinds of pressure on second down. The protection vanished and he’s sacked by a loss of ten yards. He gets smashed in the face by David Onyemata. It’s 3rd and 17 and the quarterback goes down on the field. Derek Anderson comes in at QB for the Panthers.
Updated
Panthers 19-24 Saints, 9:43 4th quarter
The Saints stall and it’s 3rd and 12. Brees is under pressure from the snap but evades the pass-rush and avoids the sack, he looks downfield but doesn’t have a target and throws it away. New Orleans punts.
Carolina will start from their own 17 after the fair catch by Kaelin Clay. Less than 10 minutes remain.
Panthers 19-24 Saints, 10:47 4th quarter
The Saints have just 35 yards on the ground today. Carolina needs to stop Brees in the air to stay in this. But the Saints quarterback completes passes to Josh Hill and then Willie Snead to move the chains.
Touchdown Carolina! Panthers 19-24 Saints, 12:47 4th quarter
We have a ballgame! The Saints force third down. Cam fires a 14-yard pass to tight end Greg Olsen who brings it in for the touchdown!
Olsen had three catches for 54 yards in that drive and the Panthers have scored on five of their last six possessions.
Cam Newton to Greg Olsen.@Panthers find the end zone! #CARvsNO #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2018
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/GywcK3zUrs
Updated
Panthers 12-24 Saints, 13:38 4th quarter
It’s 3rd and 1 after Stewart picks up two yards. Cam Newton play-actions and then completes to Greg Olsen for 24 yards. The Panthers are inside the red zone again.
Panthers 12-24 Saints, end of 3rd quarter
Greg Olsen catches a pass for 17 yards to put the Panthers at midfield. He has five receptions for 66 yards today and looks the biggest threat in the air for Carolina. Then McCaffrey runs for seven yards to take bring up 2nd and 3 at the end of the third quarter.
There’s life in Carolina yet.
Panthers 12-24 Saints, 1:32 3rd quarter
Alvin Kamara runs for five yards. That’s his longest rush of the day. Ingram then gets two. Brees gets sacked on third down for the first time today. The Saints punt. Here come the Panthers again.
Panthers 12-24 Saints, 3:44 3rd quarter
From their own 25, the Carolina starts again. Cam Newton gets smacked by namesake Cam Jordan on second down for a loss of nine yards. Newton does a good job holding on to the ball. It’s 3rd and 19. The pass is complete to Christian McCaffrey but it’s only good for six yards. Carolina punts it away.
New Orleans will take over on their own 17 yard line.
It’s what we all came to see:
This is the first playoff game in the Super Bowl era in which kickers from both teams made a field goal of 55+ yards
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 7, 2018
Field goal New Orleans! Panthers 12-24 Saints, 6:05 3rd quarter
Brees finds Brandon Coleman with a 8-yard pass. The receiver takes it to the Carolin 27 but loses the ball before hitting the ground. It’s a fumble but Mark Ingram recovers for the Saints. A let-off for New Orleans and an opportunity missed for Carolina.
The Panthers defense makes the stop though - finally - and Wil Lutz kicks his first field goal of the day from 57 yards to give New Orleans a 24-12 lead.
Updated
Panthers 12-21 Saints, 9:05 3rd quarter
Tony McDaniel’s wife is reportedly in labour. He’s been informed by Sean Payton and chosen to continue playing at defensive tackle for the Saints. On the field, New Orleans is moving the ball again and inside Carolina’s half.
Field goal Carolina! Panthers 12-21 Saints, 10:58 3rd quarter
Cam can’t connect with Greg Olsen on first down. The quarterback then keeps it and flies straight up the middle for a gain of six yards on second down but can’t find an open receiver on third down. The Panthers are forced to settle for another Gano field goal, his fourth, this one from 29 yards.
The Panthers are 0-3 in the red zone so far today.
Updated
Panthers 9-21 Saints, 12:35 3rd quarter
Cam fires a dart to Christian McCaffrey over the middle. It’s complete for 11 yards to the 10. 1st and goal.
Updated
Panthers 9-21 Saints, 13:18 3rd quarter
Carolina gets the ball to start the half. Jonathan Stewart bounces to the outside and makes a big 29-yard gain to take the Panthers inside the Saints’ 30-yard line. Newton rushes to the 21 to bring up a big 3rd and 2. New Orleans calls a timeout.
Drew Brees has rolled back the years at the Superdome today and his arm is the difference between the two sides right now. The Saints leaned on the run game during the regular season but here have just 14 yards on the ground. It’s been all Brees thus far. He’s completed 13/18 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. Four Saints have 20 yards or move receiving with Ted Ginn racking up 85 yards off two completions.
Carolina had the ball for 19:24 in that first half but they’ve been unable to get into the end zone. As already mentioned, the Panthers will get the ball first in the second half. They need to capitalise and score a touchdown or else Brees and the Saints will run away from them
Updated
Field goal Carolina! Panthers 9-21 Saints, half-time
The Panthers move the ball down the field to sneak into field goal range right before the end of the second quarter. Gano is able to make a monster 58-yard attempt to keep Carolina within touching distance, just. The Saints lead 21-9 halfway through this one.
Touchdown New Orleans! Panthers 6-21 Saints, 0:43 2nd quarter
Fullback Zach Line gets the hand-off and barrels his way into the end zone from the 1 yard line. New Orleans is well on top now and leads 21-6. Carolina cannot stop Brees. They need to make some adjustments at half-time to try and slow this passing game down. New Orleans has 230 yards in the air and just 14 on the ground.
FULLBACK TOUCHDOWN.@ZLINE48 gives the @saints a 21-6 lead! #CARvsNO #NFLPlayoffs
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2018
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/rADWM75k5X
Updated
Panthers 6-14 Saints, 0:46 2nd quarter
Brees is on target again to Josh Hill for 25 yards to get down to the Carolina 15. Then he finds Michael Thomas with a 14-yard pass to move the Saints to the 1 yard line. It’s 1st and goal and the Panthers take a timeout.
Panthers 6-14 Saints, 1:26 2nd quarter
Nearly a pick! Drew Brees airs it out to Ted Ginn but the pass is short giving Kurt Coleman a chance to make a play, but he can’t come up with it. Brees then makes a 18-yard completion to Brandon Coleman to put the Saints over halfway.
Updated
Panthers 6-14 Saints, two-minute warning
Carolina could use a stop here to end the first half. They’ll receive the second half kick-off. But the Saints move the ball for a first down and that’s the two-minute warning.
Updated
Field goal Carolina! Panthers 6-14 Saints, 2:47 2nd quarter
After the the fourth down conversion the Panthers are faced with 3rd and 8. Cam Newton throws to Brenton Bersin for a big 19-yard gain and a new set of downs. Olsen then goes deep on the left sideline towards the end zone but he can’t bring it in against corner Ken Crawley.
It’s now 3rd and 7, the Saints blitz, Cam finds Ed Dickson but it’s not enough for the first. Gano is back out and he knocks through a 39-yard field goal to make it 14-6.
First down Carolina!
The Panthers get the first down on a quarterback keeper. Carolina’s just inside New Orleans’ half with less than six minute left in the half.
Panthers 3-14 Saints, 6:37 2nd quarter
This is a big drive for the Carolina offense, behind on the road and trailing by 11 points already. The drive begins at their own 25. Cam finds rookie running back Christian McCaffrey for 17 yards on first down before Jonathan Stewart gets rejected at the line of scrimmage for no gain. It’s 2nd and 11. Newton, from the shotgun, finds Greg Olsen for 10 yards to bring up 3rd and 1. Stewart gets the hand off again and he’s right on the marker. It’s tight to whether he has the first. They bring out the chains and he’s short by three inches. The Panthers are going for it...
Touchdown New Orleans! Panthers 3-14 Saints, 9:04 2nd quarter
Another New Orleans screen play, this time to that man Alvin Kamara, soon to 2017’s Rookie of the Year. Kamara gets 10 yards before Brees finds Michael Thomas for 13 yards to set up 1st and goal at the 9. On first down, Brees throws to Josh Hill for the touchdown and that’s 14-3 New Orleans.
Brees has now completed his last eight passes, is 9/12 overall so far today for 163 yards and two touchdowns.
TE TD!#SaintsGameday | #CARvsNO pic.twitter.com/6OGUD5qNtC
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) January 7, 2018
Updated
Panthers 3-7 Saints, 11:52 2nd quarter
Brees goes play-action and sets up the screen for Mark Ingram. He picks up 13 yards and is out of bounds at the Carolina 35. Ingram then rushes for another first down for the Saints just outside the red zone.
Peat looks to have got his leg caught under the pile on the previous play. He’s carted off and doubtful to return.
Panthers 3-7 Saints, 12:49 2nd quarter
The Saints begin on their own 25. Brees finds Ginn for five yards and then throws to Michael Thomas over the middle for a nice 19-yard gain to move New Orleans to midfield. Alvin Kamara gets the hand off for three yards. The dynamic rookie hasn’t seen the ball much yet today. New Orleans guard Andrus Peat goes down on the play.
Field goal Carolina! Panthers 3-7 Saints, 14:12 2nd quarter
It’s 3rd and 6 from the 9. Cam looks for Olsen but it’s way off target. Kicker Graham Gano comes back out for a 27-yard try. This time he makes it and Carolina is on the board.
Panthers 0-7 Saints, end of 1st quarter
Greg Olsen is a factor. He catches a pass for 22 yards and the Panthers have the ball around midfield. Newton then airs it out to Kaelin Clay deep downfield. Cornerback Ken Crawley makes contact and the officials call pass inference to move the Panthers to the Saints 13 yard line. That’s the end of the quarter.
Here’s that Ted Ginn touchdown
YOU'RE NOT GONNA CATCH @TEDGINNJR_19.
— NFL (@NFL) January 7, 2018
80-yard @Saints TD! #GoSaints #CARvsNO pic.twitter.com/YDB84VlVGa
Touchdown New Orleans! Panthers 0-7 Saints, 1:46 1st quarter
And just like that it’s 7-0 New Orleans. Drew Brees throws incomplete on first down but then finds Ted Ginn deep down the middle on an 80-yard bomb on second down. The former Panther has the game’s first touchdown.
The Panthers went 15 plays and took over seven minutes off the clock but couldn’t score. The Saints then needed two plays and 18 seconds for their touchdown drive.
Missed field goal! Panthers 0-0 Saints, 2:04 1st quarter
The Saints defense forces 3rd and 2 from the seven. Cam attempts to find Kaelin Clay in the corner of the end zone but it’s incomplete. The quarterback makes a perfect throw but Clay simply drops it. It’s a missed opportunity.
On the fourth down the field goal unit comes out for a 25-yard attempt. But Graham Gano puts it wide right! It’s still scoreless.
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 2:58 1st quarter
An incompletion to Ed Dickson brings up 3rd and 11. Cam passes to Kaelin Clay who picks up the first down and takes the Panthers into the red zone for the first time today.
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 5:48 1st quarter
Cam throws to Greg Olsen for a nice gain and another first down. The tight end makes the catch at the Saints 25.
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 6:37 1st quarter
The Panthers attempt to set up a screen to Christian McCaffrey on first down but Newton’s pass is tipped and almost intercepted. Stewart gets nothing on second down. Newton in the shotgun on 3rd and 8 scrambles to get a first down. The Panthers then move into New Orleans territory after Fozzy Whittaker moves the chains.
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 9:41 1st quarter
Drew Brees goes to the air on first down, it’s incomplete but a holding penalty on Carolina brings up 1st and 5. Alvin Kamara gets nothing before Brees throws two incompletions.
Carolina’s defense has made a solid start.
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 10:51 1st quarter
Jonathan Stewart runs the ball for 11 yards to get a first down. Carolina then burns a timeout as the offense wasn’t set at the line of scrimmage. Stewart gets the ball again for three yards before Cam Newton keeps it and tries to run outside. He picks up two to bring up 3rd and 5. Newton targets Devin Funchess but the wide receiver can’t bring it in for the completion. The Panthers punt and the Saints will start their drive number two on their 16.
Updated
Panthers 0-0 Saints, 13:04 1st quarter
Drew Brees completes his opening pass to Brandon Coleman on first down before handing off to Mark Ingram who picks up two yards. The Saints lose four yards on third down. They punt it away for Carolina to start at their own 27.
Updated
Kick-off!
Carolina kick-off in the Superdome. Alvin Kamara takes the touchback in the end zone and New Orleans will begin at their own 25.
As always, please do get in touch with any musings or questions. Who is your Super Bowl pick? Can Carolina upset New Orleans?
Email me: james.caroll@theguardian.com or tweet me @jamescaroll
In the last 25 years, only one other quarterback has more rushing yards than passing yards in a play-off game: Michael Vick.
Updated
Cam Newton will lead Carolina’s offense. Newton is the team’s leading rusher this year but has endured some struggles in the passing game, completing less than 60% of his passes overall and throwing 16 interceptions, the most since his rookie year.
In the two meetings with New Orleans during the regular season, Newton completed 34 of 53 pass attempts for a total of 350 yards, with two touchdowns and three picks.
The Panthers will be hoping tight end Greg Olsen, who missed both games against the Saints this season with a foot injury, can make the difference in the passing game this time around.
In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars have beaten the Buffalo Bills 10-3 to book their place in the divisional round. It’s their first postseason win since 2007.
Defense dominated proceedings in Florida and neither team was able to move the ball with any efficiently on offense. Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles rushed for more yards (88) than he passed for (87) which probably tells you everything you need to know about this one.
Bortles’ 6-yard touchdown pass to Ben Koyack late in the third quarter proved to be enough for the Jags after the score was tied at 3-3 at half-time.
They’ll travel to Pittsburgh next weekend. Jacksonville beat the Steelers 30-9 back in October with Ben Roethlisberger throwing five picks.
Updated
The Saints have more than percentages on their side. New Orleans has arguably the league’s most dynamic running back duo in rookie Alvin Kamara and veteran Mark Ingram.
Kamara has three touchdowns in two games against Carolina already this season while Ingram gained over 150 yards on the ground and scored a touchdown of his own against the Panthers this year. The Saints also average a league-high 4.7 yards per carry.
And while the Panthers have the NFL’s third-best run defense, Carolina’s two worst games by rushing yards conceded came against New Orleans. They gave up 149 yards in week three and then 148 in week 13.
Preamble
The old NFL adage goes that it’s tough to beat a team three times in one season. That theory will be put to the test today in an all-NFC South clash as the 11-5 New Orleans Saints host the 11-5 Carolina Panthers in the weekend’s final wild card play-off.
New Orleans picked up its first win of the year over Carolina, winning 34-13 on the road in Charlotte, before beating the Panthers for a second time in early December by a score of 31-21 at home.
But is it so difficult to beat an NFL team three times in one year? Perhaps not. Since 1970, there have been 20 such instances of divisional rivals meeting for a third time in the play-offs after one side got two wins in the regular season. A third win was the outcome on 13 occasions, or 65% of the time.
A trip to Minnesota next weekend to face the Vikings in the divisional round awaits the winner.
Kick-off at the Superdome is 4.40pm ET/9.40pm GMT.
Before then, get caught up on Saturday’s wild card results here:
Updated
