This article is written by Brett Martel, an Associated Press Sports Writer.

NEW ORLEANS

Derek Carr showed determination to not focus on any issues present in the Saints’ offense. Despite three rough quarters, New Orleans managed to overcome their struggles and secure a win against the team with the lowest record in the NFL.

Carr came back after suffering a concussion and upper body injuries to make impressive touchdown throws to Chris Olave and Jimmy Graham in a game against the struggling Carolina Panthers. The Saints emerged victorious with a score of 28-6, putting them back in a tie for first place in the weak NFC South division.

Carr clarified that he was not attempting to be pessimistic during a conversation with center Erik McCoy after a sack on a third-and-2 play.

Carr explained that there is no issue at hand. The incident was just a minor blip. Throughout my 10 years, I have experienced similar moments numerous times, whether it be with a coach or teammate. It’s important to address and resolve these moments and then move forward.

McCoy expressed his desire to publicly apologize for his disagreement with Carr and affirmed that he and his quarterback have maintained a positive relationship.

“I was feeling very emotional. He was also experiencing strong emotions due to how things were going during the game, and I reacted poorly,” stated McCoy, who was seen on video being held back by a fellow teammate while shouting at Carr. “I allowed my emotions to take control of me.”

Dennis Allen, coach of the Saints, expressed his displeasure with the performance of the New Orleans offense at certain points, but seemed less worried about the incident between Carr and McCoy.

“When faced with a fiercely competitive situation and things aren’t going as desired, there may be moments of frustration and outbursts,” Allen remarked.

Alvin Kamara scored a touchdown by running 9 yards, helping New Orleans (6-7) end a three-game losing streak and tie with Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the division.

Carolina (1-12) assisted in New Orleans’ sixth consecutive defeat due to a few poorly executed special teams plays.

The punt attempt by Johnny Hekker in the second quarter was blocked by Saints linebacker Nephi Sewell. D’Marco Jackson recovered the ball, which was officially ruled a fumble, and ran 8 yards for a touchdown, extending New Orleans’ lead to 14-3.

Panthers interim coach Chris Tabor expressed regret for our damaging errors, saying, “We metaphorically shot ourselves in the foot. It’s frustrating to be completely honest. How will we respond? Despite this tough loss, we must continue moving forward.”

Although the Saints achieved their first victory since November 5th, disappointed spectators at the Superdome were quick to express their displeasure by booing when Carr and his team failed to score within the 10-yard line on their initial drive. Additionally, Blake Gruppe’s 29-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful.

Once more, they repeated their actions as Carr threw an interception towards the end of the first half. Defensive end Derrick Brown knocked the ball off guard Cesar Ruiz’s helmet and caught it on the rebound.

After sitting out for one week due to a concussion, a fractured rib, and a sore shoulder, Carr only threw for 37 yards in the first three quarters. He ended the game with a total of 18 completions on 26 attempts for 119 yards.

Carr expressed his excitement over winning today’s game, stating that he has accumulated enough yards and touchdowns to last a lifetime. He emphasized that his main goal is to win, and referenced a previous game where they threw for 300 yards but still lost, which he described as a disappointing week.

Carr’s initial throw for a distance of 10 yards or greater occurred during the fourth quarter, as he kicked off a crucial drive with a 43-yard pass to rookie A.T. Perry, who made an impressive diving catch at the Carolina 20-yard line. On third-and-9, Carr connected with Graham for a 12-yard gain, setting up his 7-yard touchdown pass to Olave. This was a significant play for Olave, who had been unable to practice during the week due to illness.

Carr threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Graham, who is a veteran tight end and has scored three times this season. This occurred towards the end of the game, after the Panthers failed to convert on downs in their own territory.

The Panthers failed to score twice while in the Saints’ 20-yard line during the second half and only managed to convert one out of two field goals in those instances. They also had a 1 out of 7 success rate on fourth down attempts.

Bryce Young, a rookie, continued to face challenges throughout the entire season. Despite being the first overall draft pick, he only completed 13 out of 36 passes for 137 yards and also lost possession of the ball in the first half. Additionally, he was sacked four times.

MILESTONE

Since Mickey Loomis took on the role of general manager in 2002, the Saints have achieved their 200th win. Loomis is the ninth general manager in the NFL to reach this milestone, alongside Al Davis, Bill Belichick, Jerry Jones, Tex Schramm, Bill Polian, Kevin Colbert, Curly Lambeau, and Ozzie Newsome.

INJURIES

The Panthers’ LG, Justin McCray, was assisted off the field due to a right calf injury on the first play of the game. Additionally, tight end Ian Thomas sustained an ankle injury.

UP NEXT

The Panthers will be playing against Atlanta on Sunday at their home stadium.

The Saints will be playing against the New York Giants this Sunday.

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The Associated Press NFL coverage can be found at: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Source: wralsportsfan.com