NEW ORLEANS – Defensive tackle Dwan Edwards said it would take the Carolina Panthers not playing their best for them to fall from the unbeaten ranks.
They played far from their best on Sunday at the Louisiana Superdome and somehow still managed to escape with a 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
A big reason was New Orleans’ 31st-ranked defense that gave up five touchdown passes to quarterback Cam Newton, including a 15-yarder to Jerricho Cotchery with 1:05 remaining.
But make no mistake about it, this one was big-time sloppy.
In the first half the Panthers had three turnovers, including a fumble returned for a touchdown, and a blocked extra point returned for two points.