The Carolina Panthers played the New Orleans Saints on Jan. 1st in the final regular season game. The Panthers were hoping to continue their strong end of season play, while the Saints were looking to clinch a better playoff seed. The Saints came out big winners, 45-17.
Cam Newton and the Carolina offense never really got going. Newton threw for 158 yards as he completed 15 of his 25 passes with a touchdown and an interception. Jonathan Stewart had a good day running the ball as he rushed for 79 yards on nine carries, scoring a touchdown. DeAngelo Williams rushed for 53 yards on his seven carries. Steve Smith broke Mushin Muhammed’s all-time receptions record as a Panther. Smith caught six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown.
However, this game was really all about the Saints and their high-powered offense. The Saints broke records for offensive yards (7, 474), team yards passing (5, 347) and first downs (416). Drew Bress also set another individual record, breaking his own for completion percentage he set back in 2009 with a 70.6 completion percentage. He finished this season completing 71.6.
Against the Panthers, Brees threw for 389 yards with five touchdowns and an interception, completing 28 of 35 passes. Marques Colston led the Saints in receiving with seven catches for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jimmy Graham also had a strong game catching eight balls for 97 yards. The Saints even got a great effort from the rushing game. Chris Ivory ran for 127 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
The Panthers kept the game close at half time, but the Saints pulled away after the intermission. With such a dominating offensive display by the Saints, it was always going to be tough for Carolina to pull out a victory.
However, with the loss the season can still be considered a success. The Panthers were a much better and more exciting team with Cam Newton than they were a year ago. Also, they were in mostly every game this season and with strengthening in the off-season through the draft and free agency, the Panthers should be competing for a playoff spot next year.
The future for the Panthers is certainly much brighter than it was a year ago and even after the blowout loss, I am excited to see what the Panthers can do in the 2012 season.
*All stats found on espn.com
Although living several hundred miles from Charlotte, Matthew Levine bleeds Carolina blue. He has followed the Panthers since their inaugural season in 1995 and was absolutely heart-broken over the 2003 Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.
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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.