By Mike Triplett | ESPN Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS -- It was just one touchdown.
A 21-yard run early in the second quarter by Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, who broke too easily through the middle of the New Orleans Saints' defense before making backup safety Jeff Heath whiff in the open field.
But that one touchdown was absolutely unacceptable for a Saints defense that has become the team’s lifeline in December.
“That touchdown P'Oed us off, put it like that,” said safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who wound up sealing the Saints' 18-10 victory with an interception in the final minute.
The Saints responded by not allowing the Panthers another point and just 46 more yards over the final 43 minutes of Sunday’s win.
They sacked quarterback Sam Darnold seven times, forced two turnovers and kept the team's playoff hopes alive at 8-8 heading into the last week of the season. To earn the NFC's No. 7 seed, the Saints need to win at the Atlanta Falcons and have the Los Angeles Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers.
Full Story - ESPN.com
