Saints Trust Williams to Win Game

Ricky Williams never imagined he would get the ball with a second left in the game and a yard needed to win. After all, he never gets the call when New Orleans practices similar situations.

But the Saints gambled on Sunday, and Williams delivered, outrunning Carolina’s defense on the final play of the game to give New Orleans a 27-25 victory over the Panthers.

“I didn’t expect to be in that situation at all,” Williams said. “Usually, when we’re in our two-minute drill, the running back never gets the ball and I never get that chance. So I was surprised and thankful the coaches had confidence in me.”

In practice situations, the Saints normally throw the ball. But against Carolina’s defense, which failed to stop Williams the entire game, that strategy was tossed aside.

With one second left, the Panthers stacked the line, assuming quarterback Aaron Brooks or Williams might try to go straight into the end zone.

Instead, Williams took the pitch and went around left tackle Willie Roaf and followed a stellar block from receiver Albert Connell to race around the left side of the line untouched for the score.

“It was a very gutsy call because they were bringing everybody and we never run it that way in practice against our defense,” Brooks said. “But we can’t run the ball on our defense. It’s unrealistic. I guess with Ricky, nothing is unrealistic.”

Williams’ run capped a late flurry of scoring that prevented the Saints (3-1) from losing a game they dominated. It also assured Williams, who ran for 147 yards in 31 carries, that he’d make the highlight shows for the right reason.

“Once I found out I was getting the ball, I knew I would be on [TV] one way or the other,” he said. “It was either going to be ‘Williams scores’ or “Williams gets stuffed’ so I’m pleased with the way it worked out.”

The Panthers (1-4) lost their fourth in a row, their longest losing streak since they opened the 1998 season 0-7.

Brooks had New Orleans inside the 20 with 14 seconds to play and capitalized on Carolina penalties to keep the drive alive. The Panthers were called for jumping offsides with 10 seconds left to move the ball to the two. A pass interference call on the next play moved the ball up another yard with six seconds left.

Brooks’ next shot at the end zone dropped incomplete, leaving only one second for Williams’ run.