It’s fitting that tonight’s Saints-Panthers game is for first place in the worst division in the NFL, because this game has been mostly a stinker.
But the Saints came alive late in the second quarter and took a 14-0 lead into halftime.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton each have two turnovers, with an interception apiece and a lost fumble apiece. But the difference has been that the Saints have been able to capitalize on the Panthers’ mistakes: Newton’s fumble deep in Saints territory turned into the first New Orleans score, and just before halftime the Saints benefited from a pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up a one-yard touchdown pass from Brees to Jimmy Graham.
Now the Panthers will need to play a lot better in the second half, or else the Saints are going to make a strong statement that they’re the best team in the NFC South. Not that that’s saying much.