Saints continue to win despite their offensive struggles

New Orleans Saints’ head coach Mike Ditka knows how to win, especially with a below average offense. He did it many years in Chicago and now he’s doing it with the Saints.

The Saints improved to 6-2 (1st place in the NFC West) with a 24-21 win over the Carolina Panthers Sunday in the Superdome despite 140 total yards from his offense.  QB Billy Jo Hobert replaced an injured Heath Shuler and he did just enough to keep the Saints on the winning side.

The Panthers held a 21-17 lead late in the 4th quarter until DB Dwayne Washington picked off a Kerry Collins pass on third down and raced down the sidelines 34 yards to the Panthers 3-yd line. On third down on the Saints’ offensive possession, Hobert scrambled and dove into the endzone for a 5-yd TD rush to give the Sanits’ the victory.

The Saints also got a pick-six from CB Eric Allen early in the 2nd quarter and a kickoff return from Eric Guliford of 100 yards for a TD. The Saints’ defense sacked Collins three times and forced four Panthers’ turnovers.

The Saints will try to keep it rolling next Sunday as they host the 49ers in an NFC West Showdown! The Panthers, who have lost four consecutive games, will try to get back on track against the Falcons on next week’s Sunday Night game.

1997 Game 97 Stats