The New Orleans Saints have recorded a 28-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers to earn successive wins for the first time this season.
It was a successful start to the match for the defensive players on show at the Bank of America Stadium as both Drew Brees and Cam Newton struggled to drive their respective side forwards in the first half.
The stalemate between the two sides was finally ended with less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter, when Mark Ingram hurried over from two yards out to hand the advantage to the Saints.
Carolina were rocked by the setback, and fell further behind in the final minute of the first half when Brees fired a short pass to Jimmy Graham to make it 14-0.
Newton led the Panthers back into the game after the break by spotting a gap to score with a 10-yard rush at the end of a long drive from the hosts.
However, the Saints restored a 14-point lead when Brees followed his rival by forcing himself over the line to score a touchdown of his own.
Newton picked out Brandon Williams with what looked to be a touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, but a review from the officials confirmed that the Panthers receiver's knee was down before he reached the endzone.
Carolina were forced to settle for a Graham Gano field goal from the drive, and their challenge would then fade in the latter stages of the game.
A 13-play drive from the Saints ended with Ingram rushing into the endzone for his second touchdown of the evening.
Sensing that the game was over, large numbers of Carolina supporters left early as New Orleans safely secured their fourth success of the season.
Callum Mulvihill
