CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It could have been the kind of game they make movies about: “Cool Hand Luke II.”
Or write songs about: “Nothing could be finer than to win in Carolina.”
Or that inspires ginormous headlines: “SAINTS ALIVE!!!”
Or that transfers someone from obscurity into a legendary hero: Luke McSkywalker.
Or maybe it just gets him more commercials.
Instead, despite the superb efforts of their career backup quarterback replacing their Hall of Fame-bound starter and commendable performances by just about everyone else in black and gold, the New Orleans Saints came up short here Sunday against the Carolina Panthers 27-22.