TEAM STATS
The Panthers:
- Fell to 9-8 all-time in franchise postseason history, failing to advance to the Divisional Round for the first time in eight postseason trips.
- Outgained the Saints in total yards, 413-410.
- Rushed for 107 yards on the ground. In the regular season, the Panthers finished fourth in the NFL with 131.4 rushing yards per game.
- Held New Orleans to 41 net rushing yards, tying for the second-fewest allowed by Carolina in franchise postseason history. It also marked the fewest rush yards by New Orleans this season after they averaged 129.4 in the regular season.
- Held the edge in time of possession, 33:49-26:11. Carolina set a regular season franchise record for time of possession this year at 32:17.
- Converted 8-of-17 (47 percent) on third down, while holding New Orleans to 2-of-8 (25 percent) on third down.
- Allowed 369 net passing yards, the most passing yards allowed by Carolina in franchise postseason history.
- Recorded only one sack for the second straight week dating back to Week 17 of the regular season.
- Went 1-4 (25 percent) in the red zone with one touchdown and two field goals. Carolina went 2-7 (28.6 percent) in the red zone in the final two games of the regular season.
The Saints:
- Converted three pass plays over 20 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass to Ted Ginn, the longest pass play allowed by Carolina in franchise postseason history.
PLAYER STATS
Panthers:
- QB Cam Newton set a franchise record for most passing yards in a postseason game with 349, surpassing his previous record of 335 vs. Arizona (1/24/16). He also tied the franchise record for most completions in a postseason game, tying Jake Delhomme's 24 completions at Chicago (1/15/06). Newton passed Jake Delhomme to move into first place all-time with 134 career postseason completions.
- K Graham Gano converted a 58-yard field goal to end the first half. The kick was the longest in Panthers franchise history, regular season or postseason, and tied for the longest in NFL playoff history.
- TE Greg Olsen had 107 receiving yards on eight catches, marking his third career postseason 100-yard receiving game. The total pushed him to 488 postseason receiving yards as a Panther, passing Muhsin Muhammad (407) for second place on the team's all-time postseason receiving yards list.
- RB Christian McCaffrey scored a 56-yard receiving touchdown in the fourth quarter and finished with 101 yards on six catches. McCaffrey's touchdown was the longest reception by a running back in postseason franchise history and tied for 10th all-time in NFL postseason history. His 101 receiving yards were the most by a running back in franchise postseason history
- LB Thomas Davis played in his 11th career postseason game with the Panthers, becoming Carolina's all-time leader in playoff experience.
Saints:
- QB Drew Brees passed for 376 yards, his seventh 300-yard passing game in the playoffs. That ranks third-most in the Super Bowl era.
- K Wil Lutz hit a 57-yard field goal in the third quarter. It became the first postseason game in NFL history with two kickers converting field goals of 55 yards or longer.
- WR Ted Ginn, Jr. caught an 80-yard touchdown pass, his career long in the postseason. Including playoffs and regular season, no player has more receiving touchdowns of more than 35 yards than Ginn (10) in the NFL.
View the top photos from the Panthers' Wild Card playoff loss to the Saints, by team photographer Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez.
1 / 61
2 / 61
3 / 61
4 / 61
5 / 61
6 / 61
7 / 61
8 / 61
9 / 61
10 / 61
11 / 61
12 / 61
13 / 61
14 / 61
15 / 61
16 / 61
17 / 61
18 / 61
19 / 61
20 / 61
21 / 61
22 / 61
23 / 61
24 / 61
25 / 61
26 / 61
27 / 61
28 / 61
29 / 61
30 / 61
31 / 61
32 / 61
33 / 61
34 / 61
35 / 61
36 / 61
37 / 61
38 / 61
39 / 61
40 / 61
41 / 61
42 / 61
43 / 61
44 / 61
45 / 61
46 / 61
47 / 61
48 / 61
49 / 61
50 / 61
51 / 61
52 / 61
53 / 61
54 / 61
55 / 61
56 / 61
57 / 61
58 / 61
59 / 61
60 / 61
61 / 61
This Ad will close in 3
