CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- If the New Orleans Saints hope to make a run at the playoffs theyll first need to figure out how to kick the football through the uprights.Seems pretty simple, right?And yet for the second straight week, disaster struck when rookie kicker Wil Lutz walked on the field.With the Saints looking to cut Carolinas lead to seven in the second quarter, Vernon Butler blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt and Luke Kuechly returned it 73 yards to set up a Carolina touchdown before halftime. Kuechly actually scored on the return, but the Panthers were flagged for a block in the back. It didnt matter as Cam Newton found Ted Ginn Jr. for a 40-yard TD strike on the next play from scrimmage and the Panthers went on to a 23-20 win .It wasnt quite as dramatic as four days earlier when Lutzs potential game-winning extra point was blocked by Justin Simmons and returned for a defensive 2-point conversion in a 25-23 loss to the Denver Broncos, but the 10-point swing was just as costly.Its two weeks in a row that weve had a blocked kick thats resulted in pretty catastrophic results, Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. So I think were doing a lot of good things, but unfortunately theres a couple critical things that need to be fixed in order for us to win and be successful.Some other things to know from the Panthers win:SACKS ARE COMING IN BUNCHESThe Panthers defense is bringing the heat with 18 sacks in their last four games.Their fronts playing well, said Saints coach Sean Payton, whose team has lost four of its past five games at Carolina. It forces you to come underneath. ... You have to win inside or separate inside. We forced one on the one pick down the field, but it was obviously a more patient approach.Brees threw for 465 yards in a victory against Carolina earlier this season. On Thursday night, he threw for 285 in a loss.This is a defense that thrives on you getting impatient. We knew that coming in, Bress said. I tried to force one that I shouldnt have, and it was a bad result. Other than that I thought we were efficient.EMOTIONAL SPEECHPanthers defensive end Charles Johnson implored his team to not repeat last weeks collapse against Kansas City while on the sideline. Carolinas defense snuffed out the Saints final push for a game-tying field goal attempt.There was a feeling of `lets stop it, Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. I think thats the most important thing. I think Charles Johnson said it best, about stopping people. That was good to see Charles step up and talk like that. I think it helped the guys.PLAYOFF HOPESDespite close losses and losing records, both the Panthers and Saints have optimism going into the seasons stretch run, in pursuit of first-place Atlanta. The Falcons lead the NFC South at 6-4, but all three teams behind them are two games or fewer behind.Of course we have our hopes high, said Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who passed for 192 yards and a touchdown on Thursday. We still have our sights to everything that we want, but its still right in front of our eyes. Its going to be up to us to focus in, hone in, and were going to mend up for the next couple of days and get ready for Oakland.Brees, whose team plays at home against Los Angeles and Detroit next, sees a similar path for the Saints. New Orleans has two games against Tampa Bay and one against Atlanta to come.I know theres a lot of football left to be played, Brees said. Nothing has been determined at this point.PANTHERS RUN GAME STRUGGLESThe Panthers running game continues to struggle this season. They were held to 50 yards rushing on 27 carries against the Saints, a mere 1.9-yard average.Its part of a disturbing trend for Carolina, a team that ran for at least 100 yards in all 19 games last season. Carolina had just six first downs in the second half.INJURIES TO WATCHBoth teams will have injuries to watch moving forward,The Panthers lost linebacker Luke Kuechly (concussion), center Ryan Kalil (shoulder), pass rusher Mario Addison (foot) and cornerback Leonard Johnson (chest) to injuries.The Saints lost running back Mark Ingram to a possible concussion.---AP freelance writer Eli Pacheco contributed to this report.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Todd Gurley II Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Torry Holt Jersey . Klitschkos management company says the bout will be the Ukrainian fighters 25th world championship fight. The 1.83-meter (6-foot) Leapai defeated the previously unbeaten Denis Boytsov in November to become the WBOs mandatory challenger. http://www.laramsfootballshops.com/eric-dickerson-jersey/ . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. Cooper Kupp Rams Jersey . A big centre with all the tools to be an elite player, Johansen paced the Blue Jackets with a standout game Saturday night. He had a goal and two assists for a career-high three points as Columbus beat the New York Islanders 5-2 to snap a five-game losing streak. Greg Gaines Womens Jersey . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. ' ' '