Saints remain unbeaten after 30-20 victory over Panthers

Another team became the New Orleans Saints’ springboard to the playoff. The Carolina Panthers lost to the unbeaten team by 20-30 on Sunday and had to admit it’s a hopeless season with a 3-5 start.

It is absolutely contrary to the 8-0 Saints, who are off to the best start in club history. While it was Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme’s first loss in the Louisiana Superdome since he put on Panthers jersey, it was just Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ another win.

But the Panthers still set a “first” for the Saints any way-they did not allow the Saints’ defense to intercept a pass. Nevertheless, the Saints still won; even though the Panthers blew a 17-3 lead in the first half. The Saints soon caught up. Devery Henderson’s 63-yard gain on a short slant pass set up Pierre Thomas’ 10-yard scoring run and cut the Panthers’ lead to 17-13; then by Robert Meachem’s leaping catch and run for a 54-yard score, the Saints tied it at 20; with John Carney’s 40-yard field goal, the Saints went ahead on 23-20; and in the last 30 seconds of the second quarter, Brees’ 45-yard completion to Marques Colston and a roughing-the-passer penalty gave the Saints a first down at the Carolina 7. The Panthers became the eighth team failing in challenging the Saints.