Page 21 - AT

A21
SPORTS Wednesday 19 december 2018

Saints' D puts clamps on Newton in 12-9 win over Panthers

By STEVE REED, AP Sports fourth quarter. The Saints
Writer went for 2, but Brees' toss
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — was intercepted by Donte
Drew Brees and the New Jackson, who took it back
Orleans Saints still have one nearly 100 yards.
of the league's top-scoring That wasn't the only time
offenses, but lately it's the the Saints cost themselves
defense that's been car- a scoring opportunity. New
rying the NFL's most com- Orleans was on the verge
plete team. of taking the lead late in
On a night when Brees and the second quarter, but
the offense couldn't get James Bradberry intercept-
much going and made ed Brees' tipped pass and
some uncharacteristic mis- returned it to Saints territory.
takes, New Orleans put And New Orleans whiffed
the clamps on Cam New- on a potential game-
ton and the Carolina Pan- sealing touchdown when
thers in a 12-9 victory on Tommylee Lewis fumbled
Monday night, moving the near the goal line, leading
Saints into position to lock to a touchback that gave
up home-field advantage Carolina one last chance
in the NFC playoffs. to tie the game with 1:44
"I believe in us, game in remaining. But the Panthers
and game out, first quarter couldn't move the ball and
to fourth quarter," defen- turned it over on downs.
sive end Cam Jordan said. McCAFFREY SETS MARK
"If it comes down to a cru- New Orleans Saints' Demario Davis (56) celebrates his sack of Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, McCaffrey broke DeAn-
left, in the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. New Orleans
cial play, I believe in us." Saints' Demario Davis (56) celebrates his sack of Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton, left, in the first gelo Williams' single-season
The Saints (12-2) held an half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, Dec. 17, 2018. franchise record of 1,636
opponent to 17 points or Associated Press yards from scrimmage with
fewer for a sixth straight a rush in the first quarter. He
game. They limited New- the ball more than 10 yards wine in the offseason, while hertz trotted into the end finished with 110 yards rush-
ton to 131 yards passing, downfield because of a lin- some other teammates zone for a 50-yard touch- ing and receiving.
sacked him four times and gering sore right shoulder. gave him a broom. This down and a 7-0 lead. It DUBIOUS STREAK
forced two turnovers. Caro- He said after the game he's loss likely ended Carolina's was McCaffrey's first career The loss extended the Pan-
lina (6-8), which lost its sixth unsure what the injury is, but playoff hopes again. pass attempt, although he thers' streak of never hav-
straight, had just 247 yards he mentioned his labrum Newton said his shoulder threw two TD passes while ing posted back-to-back
and 13 first downs. The Pan- and rotator cuff as possible simply isn't getting better — at Stanford. He became winning seasons since join-
thers' only scores came on issues. He has been limited or worse — and he refused the first non-QB to throw a ing the NFL in 1995.
a trick play on fourth down in practice for weeks and to blame the injury, saying, TD pass in Panthers history. OLSEN UPDATE
and an interception return doesn't have the zip on the "I have to be better." APPLE'S PICK Panthers tight end Greg Ol-
on a 2-point conversion at- ball he normally has. "Our defense played a hell Eli Apple intercepted New- sen had surgery on his right
tempt. "So proud of the de- So much for his boast that of a game and we have ton in the end zone with 10 foot Monday, his second
fense," Saints coach Sean the Panthers were bringing to reward them," Newton seconds left in the first half. procedure on the foot in
Payton said. "I thought they a cup to steal the "juice" said. "We had two turnovers "I knew they were going to the last 16 months. "Surgery
were outstanding. It's tough from the Saints. in the red zone and that take a shot," Apple said. went well and I am on my
to win a division game on "(Newton) said something comes down to execution." "They ran a fade route. I way towards a full recov-
the road and we were able along the lines of they TRICK PLAYS just tried to get my head ery," Olsen wrote on Insta-
to do that." brought their own cup, a The Panthers struck first af- around and make a play gram.
Alvin Kamara had 103 juice box or something, I ter offensive coordinator on the ball." INJURIES
yards from scrimmage and don't know what it was," Norv Turner dug into his COSTLY TURNOVERS Saints center Max Unger
a touchdown, and Brees Jordan said. "But I do know bag of tricks. The Panthers held the Saints left the game in the first half
had 203 yards passing that he's got to go back to On a fourth-and-2 from in check for most of the after being evaluated for
for the Saints, who took a the refrigerator and pull out midfield, Christian McCaf- third quarter, but the game a concussion and did not
one-game lead in the NFC a bigger cup." frey got a handoff, took a changed when Panthers return. He was replaced by
over the Rams. The Saints The Saints swept three step toward the line, then receiver D.J. Moore fum- Cameron Tom.
close the season at home games from the Panthers stepped back and lofted a bled on an inside handoff. UP NEXT
against Pittsburgh and Car- last season and knocked perfect pass over the mid- The Saints pounced, cap- Saints: Host the Steelers on
olina; the Rams visit Arizona them out of the playoffs, dle to tight end Chris Man- ping an 84-yard drive with Sunday.
and host San Francisco. prompting Jordan to send hertz, who was 15 yards a 16-yard TD run by Kamara Panthers: Host the Falcons
Newton struggled throwing Newton a bottle of red behind the defense. Man- to make it 12-7 early in the on Sunday.q