"The New Orleans Saints eked out another victory Sunday, this time beating the Carolina Panthers 16-14 behind three John Carney field goals, putting the team in a solid position with the 2010 season one-quarter over but in an uncertain one for the remaining three-fourths. New Orleans (3-1) was unable to put the overmatched Panthers (0-4) away until the final seconds. The Saints were dominant on the stat sheet but barely ahead on the scoreboard, an outcome that left many of the 70,016 filing out of Superdome happy but vaguely concerned that this is not the same Saints team that won Super Bowl XLIV. Which, in fact, it decidedly is not. Though the long-term implications remain unclear, the Saints gutted out this win with a roster riddled with injuries and a lineup featuring backups in key positions. "We are just trying to win each week; if you look back on the back end of last season you will see a lot of hard-fought games, also," Coach Sean Payton said. In that respect, the team's insistence it cares only about its record rings true. Take, for example, the situation at running back. The Saints played Carolina without Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush and relied instead on Chris Ivory, who had carried but seven times previously in his rookie season, and Ladell Betts, who is coming off the sort of knee surgery last year that could end an NFL career. Featuring that unlikely duo, the Saints enjoyed their best rushing game of the season, pounding out 121 yards and nine first downs on the ground. Ivory led the team with 67 yards on 12 carries, while Betts lugged it 13 times for 47 more yards, and each of them ran with an inspiring, physical authority. Betts, whom quarterback Drew Brees labeled the team's offensive MVP, made his presence felt early when, on a second-and-3 at the New Orleans 39, he took a swing pass from Brees in front of the Saints' sideline, broke a tackle, spun, and then bowled over another would-be tackler and picked up the first down." Read more: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/10/new_orleans_saints_hold_off_ca.html
