DEFENSE: More numbers – 246 yards allowed, six stops in 10 third-down attempts, 80 rushing yards allowed on 3.5 yards per attempt – that looked like a winning ticket. But the Panthers, who entered the game averaging 15.5 points, scored touchdowns on all three red zone trips and while the Saints were able to force one turnover (Shemar Jean-Charles had his first NFL interception), two other would-be interceptions were dropped when the defense could have gotten off the field and produced momentum with the stop. New Orleans hasn’t been able to get a critical stop since Week 2, which has played a significant role in the seven-game losing streak.
SPECIAL TEAMS: One huge mistake proved costly. Matthew Hayball’s 30-yard punt gave the Panthers a short field, and they turned it into a 40-yard touchdown drive. Granted, the defense still had the opportunity to make a stop, but the short punt gave Carolina an adrenaline boost that it took advantage of.