Panthers Beat Saints, Giving Mora More Fits

When your No. 1 running back goes down because of a season-ending knee injury, your rushing game usually goes with him. For the Carolina Panthers, it has been the opposite.

Continuing his relief role for Tshimanga Biakabutuka, halfback Anthony Johnson had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game Sunday, leading the Panthers to a 19-7 victory over New Orleans.

Johnson had 123 yards in 29 rushes and also caught five passes for 41 yards.

“He makes it easy to block for him,” center Curtis Whitley said. “He works so hard and you know he’s going to keep giving it everything he’s got and keep hitting the hole hard and fast.”

Saint Coach Jim Mora launched into a profanity-laced tirade at his postgame news conference before stomping away from the podium and kicking open the door on his way out of the interview room.

“We were terrible, absolutely terrible,” Mora said. “It was an embarrassing, shameful coaching and playing performance by the New Orleans Saints. I couldn’t be more upset, and those players in there ought to be upset.”

Carolina (5-2) stayed atop the NFC West with San Francisco by winning for the fourth time in as many games at Ericsson Stadium. The Panthers have given up only three touchdowns and 33 points in their new $187-million facility.

“It’s a great thing to have 70,000 people rooting for you,” Johnson said.

John Kasay kicked four field goals to help the Panthers improve to 5-0 in the NFC West.

The Saints (2-6) built a 7-6 halftime lead, but were held to 62 yards in the second half and lost for the first time in three games.

New Orleans’ Ray Zellars, coming off a career-high 174 rushing yards a week earlier, finished with 61 yards in 17 carries.

“It’s going to be a real challenge for this team to respond,” fumed Mora. “I don’t know if they will or not, to be honest with you. I really don’t know.”