Saints alone atop NFC South after win over Panthers

The Associated Press LEADING THE CHASE: New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries on a 72-yard run in the first half of an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans Sunday. Ingram finished with 85 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Saints' 31-21 win.
The Associated Press LEADING THE CHASE: New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram (22) carries on a 72-yard run in the first half of an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers in New Orleans Sunday. Ingram finished with 85 yards rushing and a touchdown in the Saints' 31-21 win.

NEW ORLEANS -- Rookie sensation Alvin Kamara scored two tackle-shedding touchdowns, New Orleans took advantage of a pair of Carolina special teams gaffes, and the Saints reclaimed sole possession of first place in the NFC South with a 31-21 victory over the Panthers on Sunday.

Mark Ingram rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown for the Saints (9-3), who own the head-to-head tie-breaker over Carolina (8-4) with four games to go.

Drew Brees passed for 269 yards, including a 10-yard TD to Michael Thomas a few plays after a botched Panthers punt gave New Orleans the ball on the Carolina 31.

In the fourth quarter, a fumble by Panthers punt returner Kaelin Clay near midfield set up Wil Lutz's 31-yard field goal to give New Orleans a 31-14 lead.

Cam Newton passed for 183 yards and touchdowns of 21 yards to Christian McCaffrey and 24 yards to Devin Funchess. Newton also ran for 51 yards. Jonathan Stewart added a short TD run for Carolina, which had its four-game winning streak ended.

But the Panthers were unable to convert a crucial fourth-and-6 play deep in Saints territory in the fourth quarter. Newton connected with Funchess, who was stopped a yard short by cornerback Ken Crawley.

Kamara finished with 122 yards from scrimmage, capping his day with a serpentine, 22-yard gain on a third-and-10 screen pass with a little more than two minutes left.

Sports on 12/04/2017

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