NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees and the Saints’ prolific offense never had to play from behind in their first five games.
Mastering the comeback in their last three has gotten New Orleans off to its best start in the franchise’s 43-year history.
New Orleans moved to 8-0 on Sunday when Brees overcame two early turnovers to pass for 330 yards and a touchdown in a 30-20 victory over the Carolina Panthers.
“That’s great. I mean, 1967 until now and we’re the only (Saints) team to have done that,” Brees said.
While the Saints did not intercept a pass for the first time all season, their defense forced three turnovers on fumbles. The last produced New Orleans’ seventh defensive touchdown of the season on Anthony Hargrove’s strip, recovery and 1-yard return late in the fourth quarter.
Hargrove might have been down before advancing the ball, but the play started before the two-minute warning and Carolina had no timeouts, preventing a challenge.
DeAngelo Williams rushed for 149 yards and two TDs, and Carolina gained 182 yards on the ground. But it was Williams’ fumble at his 1 that led to the clinching TD.
It was Carolina’s (3-5) first loss in Louisiana since 2001 and QB Jake Delhomme’s first loss in the Superdome.
The Panthers blew a 17-3 lead as the Saints improved to 5-0 at home this season.
“I’m encouraged with the fact that we’ve been able to win a few of these games and we haven’t played our best football,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “I don’t know we’re paying a lot of attention to where this (record) at the halfway point compares to past teams. There hadn’t been a real rich history here in regards to successful football.”
