Brees’ savvy fuels Saints
NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees’ veteran poise and enduring skill as a passer were enough for the Saints to overcome the loss of two top receivers in the last few days.
Brees, 41, completed 80.6% of his passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a one-yard score to lead the Saints to a 27-24 victory Sunday against the Panthers.
The vintage performance came after the Saints had to adjust their game plan in the wake of Michael Thomas’ hamstring injury Wednesday and Emmanuel Sanders’ positive COVID-19 test Thursday.
‘‘Each week, it’s finding a different way to win,’’ Brees said. ‘‘Each week, it’s finding different guys that are having to step up and contribute in ways that maybe they haven’t in the past. So I can’t say enough about guys’ resolve and resilience to be able to do that.’’
The Panthers had driven across midfield in the final minutes when Saints defensive end Marcus Davenport’s sack of Teddy Bridgewater led coach Matt Rhule to send out kicker Joey Slye to try a 65-yard field goal on fourth-and-19. The kick fell just short of the crossbar, and the Saints (4-2) ran out the final 1:55 to send the Panthers (3- 4) to their second consecutive loss.
‘‘That sack was a fatal blow,’’ Rhule said. ‘‘That is the only thing that couldn’t have happened there. . . . Teddy can’t take that sack. The offensive line can’t allow that sack. It just can’t happen.’’
Brees completed 29 of 36 passes, including eight completions for 75 yards to undrafted rookie Marquez Calloway. Brees’ decisionmaking and accuracy also helped the Saints convert 12 of 14 third downs.
After the Saints’ two third- down failures, Wil Lutz came through with field goals of 41 and 43 yards.
Brees’ first touchdown pass went for four yards to tight end Jared Cook, who completed the catch after bobbling the ball in tight coverage. The second covered four yards to Deonte Harris two seconds before halftime. Harris is primarily a return man, but he got more snaps than usual at receiver and had four catches for 46 yards.
Alvin Kamara added 148 yards from scrimmage, with 83 coming on 14 rushes and the rest on eight receptions.
The Saints’ methodical offensive approach allowed them to keep the ball for nearly 35 minutes without punting. That was enough to overcome a strong showing by Bridgewater in his first game against the Saints since resurrecting his career with them as Brees’ backup the last two seasons.
Bridgewater was 23-for-28 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yarder to DJ Moore, who also had a seven-yard catch-and run around right end for a score. The Panthers’ Curtis Samuel ran for a fiveyard touchdown that tied the score at 24 at the end of the third quarter.