Funny pics, vids and more » a two-run fifth as the White Sox went ahead

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 Patrice Bergeron Jersey . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Zdeno Chara Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/charlie-coyle-hockey-jersey/ .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. John Moore Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Adam Oates Bruins Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. CHICAGO -- Whit Merrifield hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run seventh inning and the Kansas City Royals held on for a 6-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night.Royals closer Wade Davis gave up a single to Tyler Saladino and a double to Adam Eaton to lead off the ninth before Melky Cabreras infield single cut the deficit to one.With the tying run on third and one out, Davis struck out Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau for his 23rd save as the Royals remained four games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer in the first and Alex Gordon a solo shot in the fourth off White Sox starter James Shields. The struggling righty exited after six innings leading 4-3 before the Chicagos bullpen faltered.Chris Beck (2-2) was charged with three runs while giving up two hits and a walk and getting one out.Davis was the last of five relievers after Edinson Volquez, who allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings.Kevin McCarthy (1-0) got the last out of the sixth and Joakim Soria struck out two in a perfect eighth.Shields, who helped the Royals reach the 2014 World Series, allowed three runs and four hits. He avoided his 18th loss despite moving into the major league lead with 37 home runs allowed.Morneau doubled twice and drove in a run in a two-run fifth as the White Sox went ahead 4-3.Abreu drove in his 90th run and Salladino went 3 for 4 to leave him 9 for 12 in the past three games.ddddddddddddVolquez allowed the leadoff batter to reach in all five innings, but the Royals overcame Chicagos 12 hits for their fourth win in 10 games.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (wrist) returned after a two-game absence. . RF Lorenzo Cain (hand) was sidelined again after he had discomfort swinging in his return Friday. Manager Ned Yost said he would address his status after speaking with the medical staff.White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said its unlikely 2B Brett Lawrie, who last played July 21, returns this season. Lawrie remains in Arizona dealing with nagging knee pain after originally being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Its become a long shot at this point just because hes been out so long, Ventura said.MERRIFIELDS YEARMerrifield, a 27-year-old rookie forced into duty thanks to Kansas Citys numerous injuries, has driven in 21 runs in 60 games.MORNEAUS FUTUREMorneau, signed in June to a one-year deal, will decide after the season whether to try to play in 2016. Hes 35.Oh, hes got something left, Ventura said. He can play next year if he wants to.UP NEXTWhite Sox ace Chris Sale (15-7, 3.07 ERA) faces RHP Ian Kennedy (10-9, 3.76) in the series finale Sunday. ' ' '