New Orleans Saints fans were sweating heading into Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, as Drew Brees was missing Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders — just as the latter appeared to be coming into his own in the Saints offense.
Brees stayed fears about how he would do without his top two targets, turning in an outstanding performance in which he went 29 of 36 for 287 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marquez Callaway stepped up in a big way, catching eight passes for 75 yards and likely supplanting Tre’Quan Smith as the third option when Thomas and Sanders return.