NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Panthers undrafted rookie Kyle Allen
turned in a promising first NFL start — until he hurt his shoulder.Whether the
New Orleans defense that Allen victimized was entirely dialed in is another
matter.Allen passed for 228 yards and two touchdowns before his injury in the
fourth
quarter
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looking ahead to the playoffs.“It was incredible. I just felt at home right when
I got on the field,” said Allen, who lost starting roles in college at both
Texas A&M and Houston, and who was not on Carolina’s roster for part of this
season. “This league is filled with opportunities, and guys that stay in the
league for a long time are the guys that take advantage of those.”A
third-stringer pressed into service with Cam Newton and backup Taylor Heinicke
out, Allen also ran for a short touchdown as Carolina snapped a seven-game
slide. He led the Panthers to three TDs and a field goal on their first four
drives. His day ended prematurely when he was hit hard by Saints rookie end
Marcus Davenport while releasing an incomplete pass. Allen said he felt pain in
his right shoulder while throwing on the sideline afterward, but that he did not
think the injury was serious.Carolina (7-9) led 23-0 at halftime, marking the
first time since coach Sean Payton was hired by New Orleans in 2006 that the
Saints (13-3) were shut out at home in a first half.“We can spin it any way we
want to. We didn’t play well,” Payton said. “From the get-go, it was obvious. So
you take that personally as a coach, and it’s disappointing.”Allen’s touchdowns
went for 53 yards to receiver Curtis Samuel and 8 yards to tight end Ian
Thomas.Having already clinched the NFC’s top
seed
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including record-setting quarterback Drew Brees and dynamic second-year running
back Alvin Kamara.By not playing, Brees finished the regular season with an NFL
record 74.4 percent completion rate for a single season, breaking the mark of 72
percent he set last season.His replacement for the finale, Teddy Bridgewater,
started an NFL game for the first time since the 2015 season. The move gave
Bridgewater a chance to rebuild his credentials as a potential NFL starter after
missing most of the past two seasons with a career-threating knee injury.“It was
a pretty cool moment, just running back out there. It’s been a long time, but
I’m grateful for that moment, grateful for that opportunity,” Bridgewater said.
“Honestly, I just wanted to get back into the rhythm of playing football. That
was my biggest goal.”Bridgewater completed 14 of 22 passes for 118
yards
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Jersey , one touchdown and one interception.The Panthers scored the game’s
first two TDs on Allen’s 1-yard keeper and Cameron Artis-Payne’s 15-yard run,
and New Orleans fell behind 30-0 before scoring its first points on
Bridgewater’s 9-yard pass to rookie Tre’Quan Smith early in the fourth
quarter.Saints third-string QB Taysom Hill added a 9-yard TD on a read-option
run.The Saints had little at stake other than the opportunity to secure the
franchise’s first 14-win regular season. They’ve gone 13-3 three times, all
under Payton in 2009, 2011 and this season. The 2009 team won the Super
Bowl.RECEIVING RECORDSaints receiver Michael Thomas came in needing 24 yards to
break Joe Horn’s single-season franchise mark of 1,399 yards receiving in 2004.
Thomas started, but with the Saints’ offense struggling to sustain drives, it
took until the first minute of the fourth quarter before Thomas eclipsed Horn’s
mark with a 6-yard catch. The Saints were clearly keeping track; numerous
teammates congratulated Thomas right after the catch.“It’s a blessing,” Thomas
said. “I feel like I’m going to be judged on my progress year in and year
out.”RARE COMPAMYWith his 22-yard reception in the first quarter — his only
reception of the game — Christian McCaffrey became the third running back in NFL
history to have 1,500 yards rushing and receiving in his first two NFL seasons
combined. He joined Kamara and Herschel Walker.INJURIESPanthers: Allen was
replaced by newly signed reserve Garrett Gilbert, who went 2 for 3 for 40
yards.Saints: Versatile offensive lineman Andrus Peat, who normally starts at
left guard but also has played both tackle positions this
season
Best DJ Moore
Jersey , left in the first half with a hand injury.UP NEXTPanthers: Start
their offseason with questions surrounding the futures of several prominent
players, including linebacker Thomas Davis, safety Mike Adams and receiver Devin
Funchess, who have expiring contracts. Center Ryan Kalil already said he’d
retire after the season and coach Ron Rivera said he was “assuming” the
38-year-old Peppers would, too.Sunday’s victory, Rivera said, “was probably the
best way to send Ryan and Pepp off on their way — two great Panthers.”Saints:
Host their playoff opener in the divisional round on the weekend of Jan. 12-13.
The Carolina Panthers have been teasing a Hall of Honor extension for quite some
time, and now we finally know who will make up the class." />Skip to main
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NFL DraftCSR Film RoomCarolina Panthers induct Jake Delhomme, Jordan Gross,
Steve Smith Sr., and Wesley Walls into Hall of
HonorNew
Adult DJ
Moore Jersey ,95commentsThe Carolina Panthers have been teasing a Hall of
Honor extension for quite some time, and now we finally know who will make up
the class.EDTShareTweetShareShareCarolina Panthers induct Jake Delhomme, Jordan
Gross, Steve Smith Sr., and Wesley Walls into Hall of HonorBob Donnan-USA TODAY
SportsAfter months of speculation and at least a week of teasers, the Carolina
Panthers have finally formally announced an expansion to the Hall of Honor, and
inducted four very deserving former players into it. Jake Delhomme, Jordan
Gross, Steve Smith Sr., and Wesley Walls will join only Sam Mills, original
general manager/president Mike
McCormack
Limited
Donte Jackson Jersey , and the PSL owners as members in the hall.No
Panthers fan could possibly question any of the names on that list. Each player
listed is at minimum, the franchise GOAT at their spot without considering
currently active players, and each of them were very pivotal in shaping the
course of the team. Jake Delhomme caused plenty of discussion and debate during
his time with the team, but I don’t feel anyone can question his importance to
our history, or how legendary his rise to fame was.David Tepper shares his
remarks on expanding the Hall of Honor:Tepper is 100% right. The Hall was
getting a little too exclusive, almost bordering on questioning why it existed
in the first place. These names are no brainers, and we are certainly going to
see a few more added as a little more time passes since their playing careers
end. Thomas Davis and Julius Peppers will without a doubt be in the hall
someday, and there are some other big names that deserve consideration too.What
do you think readers?
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