Page 8A, January 6, 2021, Catahoula News Booster Saints rout Panthers 33-7 to earn No. 2 seed in NFC playoffs CHARLOTTE, N.C. better. I need to do (AP) — While the more.” Saints didn’t get the EARNING A BONUS first-round bye in the Sanders needed NFC playoffs they eight catches Sunday coveted, they proved to reach an incentive again they can win clause in his contract big games without and earn $500,000 star players. for catching 60 passes And that could this season. He caught come in handy in the nine passes. “We real- postseason. ly wanted to get him Drew Brees threw eight catches,” Brees for 201 yards and said. three touchdowns, SAMUEL JOINS the Saints had five 1K CLUB interceptions and Wide receiver Cur- New Orleans routed tis Samuel, who is set the Carolina Panthers to become an unre- 33-7 on Sunday with- stricted free agent, out their top two run- turned in his second ning backs and full- straight 100-yard re- back to wrap up the ceiving game with No. 2 seed in the NFC NEW ORLEANS Saints quarterback Drew Brees passes against the Carolina Panthers during the seven catches for 118 playoffs. first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) yards. Samuel was a The Saints (12- vin Kamara, who tied this week after coach- me,” Rhule said. to reach the Super fourth Carolina player 4) will host the sev- an NFL record with es learned about the The Panthers (5- Bowl. to eclipse 1,000 yards enth-seeded Chicago six TDs in Week 16 COVID-19 tests late in 11) were also without “We wanted to from scrimmage, Bears in the wild-card vs. the Vikings. He the week. their top two run- end the season con- marking only the fifth round next Sunday at proved up to the task, “It’s happened to ning backs Christian tinuing to ascend,” time in the Super Bowl 4:40 p.m. EST. rushing for 105 yards other teams,” Pay- McCaffrey and Mike Brees said. era a team has accom- “We have had var- plished that statistical on 18 carries as the ton said. “I was real Davis due to injury BRIDGEWATER’S ious guys go down feat. Saints became the proud of how some and managed just 74 SEASON in a key positions,” first team to sweep guys stepped up.” yards rushing. Bridgewater fin- INJURIES Brees said. “We were the NFC South by go- Carolina’s Ted- Now that the Saints ished the season Saints: LT Terron dealt kind of a crazy ing 6-0 since the di- dy Bridgewater was are in the postsea- with 15 touchdowns Armstead left for a hand this week, but vision was formed in benched midway son, veteran safety and 11 interceptions play in the fourth it says so much about 2002. through the third Malcolm Jenkins said and went 4-11 as the quarter, but quickly re- our team and how Wide receiver Em- quarter after throw- players need to be team’s starter. He also turned. we were able to re- manuel Sanders said ing his second inter- extra careful to avoid ran for five TDs, but Panthers: McCaf- spond.” that’s a tribute to ception in the end coming into contact the Panthers struggled frey missed his 13th Brees sat out five coach Sean Payton. zone into double cov- with COVID-19. to make winning plays game of the season games this season “How he’s han- erage. The former “That will come late in games all sea- due to injury. The with broken ribs, dled Drew, Michael Saints QB finished 13 with some sacrifices son with Bridgewater Panthers also played wide receiver Mi- (Thomas) and Alvin of 23 for 176 yards and being smart and at the helm. without top pass rush- chael Thomas has being out. ... He says and was replaced by isolating ourselves,” That leaves ques- er Brian Burns and LT missed nine games we’re not going to go P.J. Walker, who was Jenkins said. ”... We tions about his future Russell Okung. with an ankle injury into panic mode — intercepted three are trying our best as the Panthers start- UP NEXT and on Sunday the and that is a credit for times. to limit our exposure ing QB, especially with Saints: The four- entire Saints running him,” said Sanders, Panthers coach because we have the team having a top time defending NFC back room was out who had 63 yards re- Matt Rhule said he what we want right in 10 draft pick in 2021. South champions host due to a COVID-19 ceiving and a touch- took Bridgewater out front of us.” “In this business, the Bears next Sunday outbreak. down. because he felt he In the past, the everything is produc- in the playoffs. That meant con- Payton acknowl- was lacking veloci- Saints would have tion based and my Panthers: After verted wide receiv- edged there were a ty on his throws and earned a first-round production has to be failing to make the er Ty Montgomery lot “moving parts” wasn’t pushing off bye, but the NFL’s de- better,” Bridgewater playoffs for the third had to fill in for Al- his ankle, which he cision to add an extra said. “It’s all about ex- straight season, Car- injured earlier in the playoff team in each ecuting the game plan. olina will look to the game. conference this year We want to be better NFL draft to upgrade “I didn’t think he means New Orleans in the red zone as a a number of pressing looked real healthy to will need an extra win team and I want to be needs..