A Timeout in Time: Saints Pa(thetic)nthers

After their first attempt to play was stopped just before halftime with
the Saints attempting to go up 28-14, a different game progressed. This
is that story.

With the Saints up 10-3 and presumably just running out the final minute
of the first half Panther's head coach/GM/owner decided to call a
timeout and try to get the ball back as the Saints would get the ensuing
kickoff to start the second half.

A more buffoonery decision has never been made. The Saints said to hell
with it and threw a deep pass on the sidelines near midfield, Devery
Henderson broke a tackle and scored an 83 yard touchdown. Then on the
kickoff Brandon Banks tried to do to much and fumbled which was returned
for a touchdown. From 10-3 to 24-3 in a blink of an eye and just about
game over.

In the second half the Saints used the momentum boost and went up 27-3
with a field goal. Then the Panthers rallied behind Jimmy Clausen and
scored a TD but missed the two point conversion, Dascenzo then made a
decidedly non-buffoonery call and went with the onside kick, which was
recovered by Brandon Banks. With only 6 seconds left in the third
quarter a pitch to Chris Johnson (97 swagger rating) turned into a 60
yard TD run. The score was know 27-16 and the Panthers were putting in
phone calls to Frank Reich.

Alas that was the last time the Panthers would cross the line that
decides whether or not a touchdown should be refereed as good. The
Saints added another touchdown and won 34-16.

Stats
Passing
Clausen 11-27-127-1-2

Brees 18-20-265-2-0

Rushing
CJ2K 9-87-1

DeAngelo Williams 19-56
Robinson 4-41-1

Receiving
Scott 2-79
CJ2K 3-42
Holmes 3-32
McCluster 2-19-1
Carlson 1-10

Henderson 2-100-1
McClain 4-58-1
DeAngelo 6-51
Robinson 2-25
Lafell 3-13
Meachem 1-18

I know what it's like to have to get comfortable with new offensive weapons. That's how I felt for the first half of last season.

When he figures out how to use CJ2K though, watch out. The couple times he was run against me in our game, I was like, "Holy crap, how did he do that?" He just outspeeds rushers.