Saints vs. Panthers: Score and Twitter Reaction for Thursday Night Football

After a disappointing start to the season, the New Orleans Saints are finally living up to preseason expectations.

Just four days removed from a blowout win against the Green Bay Packers, the Saints went into Charlotte and easily handled the division-rival Carolina Panthers, 28-10.

It was a comprehensive performance from New Orleans, which outgained Carolina 375-231 and held on to the ball for nearly 35 minutes.

Drew Brees threw for 297 yards and had two touchdowns (one passing, one running), while Mark Ingram grinded his way to 100 rushing yards and a pair of scores on 30 carries. The defense held Cam Newton to a measly 5.4 yards per throw, sacking him four times and forcing two turnovers.

And New Orleans did it on the road, which hasn't happened in a while, per ESPN Stats & Info:

It was somewhat of a microcosm of the season for the Saints in that it was a slow start. A pair of early giveaways kept the game scoreless for 27-plus minutes, but the defense eventually put the offense in a position it couldn't waste.

With Carolina operating deep in its own territory, Junior Galette blindsided Newton and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Curtis Lofton at the Panthers' 5-yard line.

Along with an interception—with help from a Brenton Bersin drop—earlier in the game, the takeaway continued a recent trend for Rob Ryan's defense, which, as The Advocate's Ramon Antonio Vargas noted, had been absent early in the season:

A rejuvenated Ingram had no trouble finishing off the ensuing drive, finding the end zone on his second attempt to make it 7-0.

The Saints tacked on another score just before the half, as pass interference from Antoine Cason in the end zone set up a one-yard strike from Brees to Jimmy Graham.

Unsurprisingly, the Panthers faithful weren't happy, per The Associated Press' Steve Reed:

The Panthers responded to the boo birds about as well as possible, though. Coming out of the locker room, they marched down the field 81 yards—almost double their first-half total—for a touchdown.

NFL's Twitter feed provided a look at Newton's best Superman impression on the critical 3rd-and-10 conversion:

But Brees responded with an 80-yard drive of his own and, after the Saints were stuffed three times at the goal line, a touchdown run to match. That put New Orleans back up by two touchdowns before the fourth quarter, which was not good news for this Carolina regime, per Football Outsiders' Scott Kacsmar:

Carolina got a field goal, but New Orleans punched right back with another 80-yard scoring drive, which took nearly six minutes and sealed the win.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera provided his take following the game:

It's hard to fathom, but at 4-4, the Saints are now in complete control of the NFC South. Not only are they alone in first place, but their next three games (and five of their final eight) are at home.

While those three are against the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, the Saints have proved over the last few years to be a different beast—even compared to Thursday night—at the Superdome.

The Panthers will travel to Philadelphia for Monday Night Football, seeking their first win in over a month.