Panthers vs. Saints: Score, results, highlights from Week 13 game in New Orleans

Tadd Haislop

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Panthers vs. Saints: Score, results, highlights from Week 13 game in New Orleans image

Sunday's Panthers-Saints game in New Orleans was arguably the highlight of Week 13. Not only was first place in the NFC South on the line, but a home game in the postseason was at stake, too.

As a result, the Saints' 31-21 win over the Panthers directly affected the NFL playoff picture.

New Orleans' defense showed up Sunday a week after a rough outing in Los Angeles. The Saints held the Panthers to 279 total yards, and Carolina converted on just three of 10 third downs.

WEEK 13: NFL scoreboard | Playoff picture

Here are all the highlights and stats from Sunday's Panthers-Saints game in New Orleans.

Panthers vs. Saints: Score, results, highlights

Panthers: 21
Saints: 31

FINAL: Panthers-Saints box score, stats

(All times ET)

7:28 p.m.: FINAL. Saints 31, Panthers 21

7:15 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Panthers: Credit Carolina for not giving up late in the game. Cam Newton found Devin Funchess for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 3:57 left to play, bringing the New Orleans lead back down to two scores. The five-play, 75-yard drive featured a 32-yard run by Newton. Graham Gano made the PAT. 31-21, Saints

7:08 p.m. — FIELD GOAL, Saints: The Saints extended their lead to three scores with a 31-yard Wil Lutz field goal. The score capped a six-play, 34-yard drive that took 2:47 off the clock. 31-14, Saints

7 p.m.: Turnover. Kaelin Clay, who saved the Panthers with a punt return touchdown last week against the Jets, killed his team when he fumbled during a punt return with 8:55 left to play. The Saints took over at the Carolina 47-yard line.

6:54 p.m.: Turnover on downs. The Panthers tried to convert a fourth-and-6 from the Saints 12-yard line with an out route to Devin Funchess, but the wide receiver was tackled short of the sticks, and New Orleans took over on downs. It was a massive play with 11:22 left in the game.

6:39 p.m.: End of third quarter.

6:18 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Saints: Alvin Kamara is a beast. The Saints' rookie running back weaved through the Panthers' defense and broke a Kurt Coleman tackle attempt before he scampered into the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown run. The score capped an eight-play, 67-yard drive for New Orlans. Wil Lutz made the PAT. 28-14, Saints

5:52 p.m.: Halftime.

5:39 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Panthers: Carolina immediately made New Orleans pay for its turnover. On the fourth play of the drive, Cam Newton found Christian McCaffrey in the flats, and the rookie running back sprinted 21 yards to the end zone. Graham Gano made the PAT. 21-14, Saints

5:36 p.m.: Turnover. The Panthers got exactly what they needed when Mike Adams forced a Josh Hill fumble, which was recovered by Luke Kuechly at the New Orleans 45-yard line.

5:28 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Saints: A key unnecessary roughness penalty against Julius Peppers on third down allowed New Orleans to keep its drive alive, and the Saints made the Panthers pay a few plays later. Drew Brees found Michael Thomas for a 10-yard touchdown pass against Carolina's zone coverage to cap a six-play, 31-yard drive. Wil Lutz made the PAT. 21-7, Saints

5:20 p.m.: Turnover on downs. The Panthers were trying to punt on fourth down, but punter Michael Palardy dropped the snap, rolled out to throw and tossed an incompletion. Carolina was flagged for an illegal man downfield, anyway.

5:13 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Saints: Mark Ingram, rather than Alvin Kamara, was the man on the Saints' second scoring drive of the game. Ingram on the first play of the possession busted through the middle for a 72-yard run. After a nine-yard Kamara carry, Ingram finished the three-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown. Wil Lutz made the PAT. 14-7, Saints

5:03 p.m.: End of first quarter.

4:45 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Panthers: Carolina answered New Orleans' opening possession TD with one of its own. Jonathan Stewart finished the 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. The Panthers' drive was aided by a couple Saints penalties, including a roughing the passer and a defensive holding. Graham Gano made the PAT. 7-7, tie

4:33 p.m. — TOUCHDOWN, Saints: Deciding to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line is an easier decision when a team has Alvin Kamara. The Saints' rookie running back took a sweep to the right, powered through Shaq Thompson's tackle attempt and slipped into the end zone to cap an 11-play, 70-yard drive for New Orleans on its opening series. Wil Lutz made the PAT. 7-0, Saints

4:25 p.m.: Kickoff.

4:24 p.m.: The Panthers won the toss and deferred.

2:57 p.m.: Inactives for Sunday's game were announced.

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.