NEW ORLEANS (WWL.com) -- The New Orleans Saints squeaked by the Carolina Panthers, 12-9, on Monday night.
"That's an odd combination right there," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said of the final score.
While Brees and the Saints offense struggled to string together scoring drives, their defense stymied Cam Newton and the Panthers. Carolina's lone touchdown came on a fourth down in the first quarter, courtesy of a trick play on which running back Christian McCaffrey threw a 50-yard touchdown pass.
Brees had high praise for the defensive effort.
"They're playing extremely well," Brees said, before pointing out how effective the defense was "when it counts," after halftime. "In the second half, you come out, and you've made your adjustments and just locking it down and really giving us a chance offensively to hit our stride and put together some drives to go down and hopefully win the game."
The Saints offense did hit their stride in the second half. Late in the third quarter, Brees and company put together an 11-play, 66-yard drive to score their only touchdown of the game (the two-point conversion would be returned by the Panthers for two points, however).
The next time the Saints got the ball, they executed a 14-play drive that ended after Tommylee Lewis fumbled through the end zone at the Carolina 1-yard line. The possession drained 7:07 off the clock and flipped field position. One of the most crucial plays on that drive was a 19-yard reception by Keith Kirkwood on third down.
"I got drilled after it, too," Brees said with a chuckle. "That's one of those where you understand the importance of staying on the field and continuing that drive. ... Keith did a nice job of reading the coverage and bending into an open area. I had to throw the ball with anticipation, knowing that there was somebody bearing down on me. He made a great catch, and I think that kind of got everybody ignited again."
The Saints were sloppy at times, committing nine penalties for 80 yards. Two came on the final drive, including a holding call that negated a big Alvin Kamara run.
"That's the kind of stuff that gets you beat," a frustrated Brees said. "That's the kind of stuff that can't happen, and you got to fix it."
The Saints left Carolina with the win, though, and improved to 12-2. They play their final two games at home, with the Pittsburgh Steelers next up.
