Saints take Wild Card divisional matchup over the Panthers

The Carolina Panthers traveled to New Orleans to take on the Saints. The teams faced off twice this season, both times the Saints came out on top. The Saints are hoping to get their third win against the Panthers this season. Who would come out on top in this NFC South Wild Card matchup? Let's find out! The Saints would start with the ball and would go three and out on their next drive. The Panthers first play of the drive would be a Jonathan Stewart 11 yard run for a first down but the Panthers would be forced to punt. The Saints would have their second straight three and out. The Panthers would go on a 15 play drive that would end with a Graham Gano 25 yard field goal attempt and he would miss it wide right. On the second play of the Saints drive, Drew Brees would go to Ted Ginn Jr for an 80 yard touchdown for a 7-0 New Orleans lead. The Panthers would go on a six play drive that would end with a 27 yard field goal by Gano and cut the Saints' lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter. The Saints would go on a nine play drive ending with Brees going to Hill for the nine yard score and a 14-3 New Orleans lead. The Panthers would go on a 12 play drive that would result in another field goal, this time from 39 yards out and it would be 14-6 in favor of New Orleans. The Saints would get another score with an eight play drive ending with Zach Line for a one yard touchdown and the 21-6 lead with 43 seconds to go in the half. The Panthers would get the ball and Cam Newton would find Devin Funchess for a 24 yard completion to the Carolina 49 yard line. The Panthers would face a third and 2 and Newton would find Christian McCaffrey for three yards and got out of bounds with three seconds to go and Graham Gano would line up for a 58 yard field goal attempt and he would make it as we head to halftime with the Saints leading 21-9. The Panthers would go on a nine play drive to start the second half that would result in Graham Gano's fourth field goal of the game, this one from 29 yards out to make it 21-12 in favor of the Saints. The Saints would go on a 10 play drive that ended with a 57 yard field goal by Wil Lutz for a 24-12 New Orleans lead. The Panthers would go three and out on their next drive. The Saints would go three and out on their next possession. The Panthers would face a third and 1 at the start of the fourth quarter and Newton would find Greg Olsen for 24 yards to the Saints 18 yard line. On third and 6, Newton would find Olsen once again for a 14 yard touchdown to cut the Saints lead to 24-19. The Panthers defense would force a punt to get the ball for their offense. The Panthers couldn't capitalize and would go three and out. The Saints would take over and on second and 11, Brees would find Coleman for 12 yards and then on the next play, Brees would find Thomas for 46 yards to the Panthers five yard line. On second and goal from the two yard line, Alvin Kamara would score from two yards out to make it 31-19. The Panthers would take over, after offsetting penalties, Newton would find Funchess for 19 yards. On second and 10, Newton would find McCaffrey for a 56 yard touchdown to cut the Saints lead to 31-26. The Saints would take over with the hope of sealing the game with 4:09 to go. The Saints would face a third and 6 and Brees would find Thomas for 16 yards. The Saints would go for it on fourth and 2 at the Panthers 31 yard line at the two minute warning. Brees' pass would be intercepted by Mike Adams and the Panthers would take over at their own 31. Newton would find Funchess for 19 yards to midfield. On second and 7, Newton would go to Clay for 21 to the Saints 26 yard line. On second and 10, Newton would get called for intentional grounding as he didn't leave the tackle box. After an incomplete pass on third and 23, the Panthers' season depended on converting a fourth and 23 at the Saints 34 yard line. On fourth and 23, Von Bell would sack Newton to seal the game as the Saints advance to the NFC Divisional Round and will travel to Minnesota next Sunday.