LIVE: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

September 16, 2012

The Carolina Panthers host the New Orleans Saints today at Bank of America Stadium at 1 p.m. The game is the first for both teams in NFC South Divisional play.

In 34 previous meetings between the Panthers and Saints, the series is tied 17-17. New Orleans has a 9-7 record at Bank of America Stadium against the Panthers.

Fifteen of the 34 games played were decided by eight points or less. Of the last 10 meetings between the two teams, four games have been decided by three points or less.

Today's inactives include:

Carolina Panthers (0-1)
QB Jimmy Clausen
S D.J. Campbell
LB Kenny Onatolu
T Bruce Campbell
G Mike Pollak
TE Ben Hartsock
DE Frank Kearse

New Orleans Saints (0-1)
WR Devery Henderson
RB Chris Ivory
CB Johnny Patrick
RB Travaris Cadet
DT Tyrunn Walker
T Bryce Harris
DE Turk McBride

*Saints also sign wide receiver Greg Camarillo and place wide receiver Adrian Arrington on injured reserve*

LIVE GAME BLOG

Saints call for heads, win toss and will start on offense

Saints first possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Pierre Thomas 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Drew Brees pass to Darren Sproles for 5
3rd and 3 - Brees pass to Sproles for 18 yards

1st and 10 (at own 45) - Mark Ingram 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Brees pass to Sproles for 3 yards
3rd and 3 - Bress pass to Sproles for 25 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 23) - Ingram run of 5
2nd and 5 - Ingram 12-yard run

1st and goal (at Panthers 6) - Bress pass to Sproles for 3
2nd and goal - Ingram 2-yard run
3rd and goal - Brees pass to Jimmy Graham for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN (Garrett Hartley XP is good)

Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards in 5:21

9:39 left in first quarter - Saints 7, Panthers 0

Carolina's Joe Adams returns kickoff 24 yards to 20

Panthers first possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Cam Newton pass complete to Brandon LaFell for 27 yards

1st and 10 (at own 47) - DeAngelo Williams 8-yard run
2nd and 10 (at Saints 45) - Williams 3-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 42) - Newton sacked by Cameron Jordan for -9 yards
2nd and 19 - Jonathan Stewart rush for -2 yards
3rd and 21 - Newton 9-yard run
4th and 12 - Brad Nortman punts from Saints 44 to Saints 7

Saints second possession (starts at own 7)
1st and 10 - Thomas 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Brees intercepted by Charles Godfrey, returned 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN (XP is good)

5:33 left in first quarter - Saints 7, Panthers 7

Saints third possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Brees pass complete to Lance Moorefor 17 yards

1st and 10 (at own 37) - Ingram 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Thomas 23-yard run

1st and 10 (at Panthers 38) - Ingram 3-yard run
2nd and 7 - Brees pass to Graham for 11 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 24) - Brees pass to Graham for 14 yards

1st and goal (at Panthers 10) - Ingram 2-yard run
2nd and goal - PANTHERS OFFSIDES, HALF THE TO THE GOAL DISTANCE
2nd and goal (at Panthers 4) - Brees pass incomplete to Moore
3rd and goal - Brees pass incomplete to Graham
4th and goal - Hartley 22-yard field goal is good

Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards in 4:07
1:26 left in first quarter - Saints 10, Panthers 7

Adams returns kickoff 24 yards to Panthers 20

Panthers second possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Newton 40-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 40) - Williams 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Newton pass complete to Tolbert for 3 yards

END OF FIRST QUARTER - SAINTS 10, PANTHERS 7

3rd and 3 (at Saints 33) - Newton 7-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 26) - Newton pass to Smith for 3 yards
2nd and 7 - Williams 10-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 13) - Stewart 8-yard run
2nd and 2 - Stewart 0-yard run
3rd and 2 - Newton 1-yard run
4th and 1 - Newton laterals to Tolbert, Saint's LB Jonathan Cassillas recovers fumble

Saints fourth possession (starts at own 8)
1st and 10 - Thomas 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Brees pass to Moore incomplete
3rd and 6 - Brees pass to Graham for 13 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 25) - Ingram 9-yard run
2nd and 1 - Brees pass to Sproles for 11 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 45) - Bress pass to Joseph Morgan for 5 yards
2nd and 5 - Brees pass to Thomas for 9 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 41) - Ingram 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Brees pass to Sproles for 4 yards
3rd and 4 - Bress pass deflected by Frank Alexander
4th and 4 - Hartley 53-yard field goal is GOOD

Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards in 4:36
7:08 left in second quarter - Saints 13, Panthers 7

Adams returns kickoff 24 yards
Panthers third possession (starts at own 26)
1st and 10 - Newton pass to LaFell for 12 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 38) - Newton 1-yard rush, HOLDING ON PANTHERS
1st and 19 (at Panthers 29) - Newton 4-yard run
2nd and 15 - Newton pass incomplete to LaFell
3rd and 15 - Newton pass to Steve Smith for 35 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 32) - Stewart 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Newton pass to LaFell for 11 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 17) - Newton pass to Stewart for 17 yards, TOUCHDOWN (Justin Medlock XP is good)

Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards in 3:35
3:33 left in second quarter - Panthers 14, Saints 13

Sproles downs ball in end zone, TOUCHBACK
Saints fifth possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Brees pass to Thomas for 4 yards
2nd and 6 - Brees pass incomplete
3rd and 6 - Brees pass incomplete
4th and 6 - Thomas Morstead punts 48 yards, Adams returns 14 yards

Panthers fourth possession (starts at own 42)
1st and 10 - LaFell rushes 25 yards
TWO-MINUTE WARNING

1st and 10 (at Saints 42) - Newton pass to Olsen incomplete
2nd and 10 - Newton pass to Olsen incomplete
3rd and 10 - Newton pass to LaFell for 19 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 14) - Stewart 7-yard run
2nd and 3 - Newton to LaFell for 1 yard
TIMEOUT PANTHERS - 22 SECONDS LEFT IN FIRST HALF

3rd and 2 - Newton 4-yard run
1st and goal - Tolbert 2-yard run, TOUCHDOWN (XP by Medlock is good)

Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards in 2:20
0:11 left in second quarter - Panthers 21, Saints 13

Junior Galette returns ball to 24
UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT ON PANTHERS, BALL MOVED TO 39
Saints sixth possession (starts at own 39)
1st and 10 - Brees kneels down

HALFTIME - PANTHERS 21, SAINTS 13

FIRST HALF STATS

Total yards: Carolina 254, New Orleans 214

Passing leaders: Cam Newton 9-12 for 128 yards and 1 TD; Drew Brees 15-22 for 143 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.

Rushing leaders: Newton 8 rushes for 66 yards; Mark Ingram 9 rushes for 41 yards.

Receiver leaders: Brandon LaFell 5 catches for 70 yards; Darren Sproles 7 catches for 69 yards.

SECOND HALF

Adams downs kickoff in end zone, TOUCHBACK
Panthers fifth possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Williams 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Newton pass to Olsen for 13 yards

1st and 10 (at own 35) - Stewart 1-yard run
2nd and 9 - Newton pass incomplete to Smith
3rd and 9 - Newton pass incomplete
4th and 9 - DELAY OF GAME ON PANTHERS
4th and 14 - Nortman punts to 11, Sproles returns to 27

Saints seventh possession (starts at own 27)
1st and 10 - Ingram 1-yard run
2nd and 9 - Brees pass to Sproles for 7 yards
3rd and 2 - Brees pass incomplete
4th and 2 - Morstead punts 65 yards into end zone

Panthers sixth possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Newton pass to LaFell for 20 yards

1st and 10 (at own 40) - Newton 0-yard run
2nd and 10 - Stewart 16-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 44) - Williams 27-yard run

1st and 10 (at Saints 17) - Williams 1-yard run
2nd and 9 - Newton pass incomplete, PASS INTERFERENCE ON NEW ORLEANS

1st and 10 (at Saints 3) - Williams 3-yard run, TOUCHDOWN (Medlock XP is good)

Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 3:04
8:17 left in third quarter - Panthers 28, Saints 13

Sproles returns kickoff 38 yards
Saints eighth possession (starts at own 33)
1st and 10 - Brees pass complete to Thomas for 12

1st and 10 (at own 45) - Thomas 11-yard run

1st and 10 (at Panthers 44) - Ingram 0-yard run
2nd and 10 - Brees pass to Courtney Roby for 9 yards
3rd and 1 - Ingram 2-yard run

1st and 10 (at Panthers 33) - Brees pass incomplete
2nd and 10 - Thomas 5-yard run
3rd and 5 - Brees pass incomplete, INTENTIONAL GROUNDING
4th and 15 - Morstead punts to 3, downed by Roby

Panthers seventh possession (starts at own 3)
1st and 10 - Stewart 3-yard run
2nd and 7 - Stewart 3-yard run
3rd and 4 - Newton pass to Tolbert for 20 yards

1st and 10 - Stewart 8-yard run
2nd and 3 - Newton 1-yard loss
3rd and 4 - Newton pass incomplete
4th and 4 - Nortman punts 46 yards, Sproles returns 14 yards to 28

Saints ninth possession (starts at own 32)
1st and 10 - Ingram 2-yard run
2nd and 8 - Brees pass complete to Colston for 10 yards

1st and 10 - Thomas 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Brees pass incomplete to Morgan

END OF THIRD QUARTER - PANTHERS 28, SAINTS 13

3rd and 6 - Brees pass complete to Colston for 29 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 23) - Ingram 3-yard run
2nd and 7 - Brees pass complete to Thomas for 8 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 12) - Thomas 11-yard run

1st and goal (at Panthers 1) - Ingram 1-yard run, TOUCHDOWN (Hartley XP is good)

Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards in 3:55
12:53 left in fourth quarter - Panthers 28, Saints 20

Morstead's kicks into end zone, TOUCHBACK
Panthers eighth possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Newton pass to Smith 66 yards

1st and 10 (at Saints 14) - Stewart 3-yard run
2nd and 7 - Newton pass to Pilares for 6 yards
3rd and 1 - Williams 1-yard run

1st and goal (at Saints 4) - Williams 1-yard loss
2nd and goal - Newton 5-yard run, TOUCHDOWN (Medlock XP is good)

Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards in 2:58
9:55 left in fourth quarter - Panthers 35, Saints 20

Medlock's kicks into end zone, TOUCHBACK

Sproles returns kickoff 14 yards to 9
Saints tenth possession (starts at own 9)
1st and 10 - Brees pass incomplete
2nd and 10 - Brees pass complete to Moore for 13 yards

1st and 10 (at own 22) - Thomas 48-yard run

1st and 10 (at Panthers 30) - Ingram 3-yard run
2nd and 7 - Brees pass complete to Sproles for 3 yards
3rd and 4 - Brees pass to Graham deflected by Gamble incomplete
TIMEOUT PANTHERS - 1ST TIMEOUT

4th and 4 - Brees steps back to pass, fumble caused by Charles Johnson, pass incomplete

Panthers ninth possession (starts at own 24)
1st and 10 - Williams 4-yard run
2nd and 6 - Williams 4-yard run
3rd and 2 - Tolbert 1- yard run
4th and 1 - Nortman punts from own 33 to Saints 19

Saints eleventh possession (starts at own 19)
1st and 10 - Brees sacked by Dwan Edwards and Thomas Keiser
2nd and 12 - Brees pass complete to Sproles for 7 yards
3rd and 5 - Brees pass complete to Graham for 6 yards

1st and 10 (at own 30) - Brees pass incomplete
2nd and 10 - Brees pass complete to Graham for 7 yards

1st and 10 (at own 47) - Brees pass to Sproles for 24 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 29) - Brees pass to Sproles for 7 yards
TIMEOUT NEW ORLEANS - 1ST TIMEOUT

2nd and 3 - Brees pass to Sproles for 11 yards

1st and 10 (at Panthers 11) - Brees pass incomplete
2nd and 10 - Brees pass complete to Colston for 10 yards
TWO-MINUTE WARNING

1st and goal (at Panthers 1) - Brees 1-yard run, TOUCHDOWN (Hartley XP is

Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards in 2:54
1:55 left in fourth quarter - Panthers 35, Saints 27

Morstead's onside kick recovered by Greg Olsen
Panthers tenth possession (starts at Saints 46)
1st and 10 - Williams 1-yard run
TIMEOUT NEW ORLEANS - 2ND TIMEOUT

2nd and 9 - Williams 2-yard run
TIMEOUT NEW ORLEANS - 3RD TIMEOUT

3rd and 7 - Newton 3-yard run
TIMEOUT CAROLINA - 2ND TIMEOUT

4th and 4 - Nortman punts 40 yards into endzone, TOUCHBACK

Saints twelfth possession (starts at own 20)
1st and 10 - Brees pass to Graham for 14 yards

2nd and 10 (at own 34) - Brees intercepted by Beason at 43

Panthers eleventh possession (starts at Saints 41)
1st and 10 - Newton kneels down

FINAL SCORE: Panthers 35, Saints 27

FIRST HALF STATS

Total yards: Carolina 463, New Orleans 486

Passing leaders: Cam Newton 14-20 for 253 yards and 1 TD; Drew Brees 31-49 for 325 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs.

Rushing leaders: Newton 13 rushes for 71 yards and 1 TD; Pierre Thomas 9 rushes for 110 yards.

Receiver leaders: Steve Smith three catches for 104 yards; Darren Sproles 13 catches for 128 yards.

FINAL NOTES
The win by the Panthers was the first over a Drew Brees' lead Saints team since Dec. 28, 2008.

This is the first time the Panthers have started 1-1 in NFC North play since the 2009 season.