Saints Set New Mark For Best Start In Franchise History At 8-0 After Come From Behind Win Over The Carolina Panthers

It’s official, the 2009 New Orleans Saints are the best team in franchise history after reaching a perfect 8-0 mark in their latest win over the Carolina Panthers.

That’s not to say that the wins or win over the Panthers came easy, when in fact the last three wins for this team have been the come from behind variety and in some circumstances from way behind.

To put it in perspective the Saints never trailed an opponent through the first five games of the season, however over the course of the last three games the Saints have trailed by as much as 21 points to come back and win by double digit totals in some of these contests.

Against the Miami Dolphins they trailed by 14 going into half time but came out in the second half and outscored them 36-10 en route to the 46-34 win, the largest come from behind in franchise history.

When the Falcons came to the dome the next week they too held a 14 point lead after the first quarter before the Saints found their stride in the second to score 21 straight unanswered points.

In this game the Falcons outscored the Saints 13-7 in the second half, the defense would step up big here and secure an interception in the red zone that protected their lead and eventually lead to a score and the 35-27 win.

The story was much the same against Carolina.

The Panthers, in typical fashion, came out running the ball on the Saints banged up defensive line. New Orleans would shift to a 3-4 to accommodate but one minute into the game Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams found a crease and took it 66 yards for the touchdown.

That would be the last time the Saints defense lined up in the 3-4 in the game.

New Orleans would continue to struggle on both sides of the ball through the first half, turning the ball over twice to the Panthers courtesy of a Drew Brees fumble then interception.

Carolina would convert both into points including a seven yard touchdown run by Williams after Brees’ fumble on the eleven yard line.

New Orleans would only put up 6 points in the half, a season low, and would enter halftime down by eleven with a score of 17-6.

New Orleans would find the answers to their early woes in the second half and again would outscore it’s opponents 24-3 on their way to the victory.

Brees would come alive to throw for 190 yards and one touchdown without turning the ball over, running back Pierre Thomas would find the end zone and the defense would contain the Panthers running backs holding them to only a field goal.

They would also force three turnovers and recover two including one for a touchdown that made the score 30-20 and successfully a two possession game.

The Saints have simply been phenomenal in the second half this season ans have dominated teams there.

Key Plays

• Brees connects with receiver Devery Henderson for a 63 yard gain to the Carolina ten yard line.
• Pierre Thomas busts a ten yard touchdown run over the right side to bring the score within four points
• Brees passes deep right for Robert Meachem for a 54 yard touchdown catch and run to tie the score 20-20
• John Carney kicks a 40 yard field goal to make the score 23-20 and the Saints take their first lead.
• Jake Delhomme is sacked forcing a fumble at the New Orleans 48 yard line by Will Smith, recovered by Anthony Hargrove.
• Tomas Morstead punts the ball to the Carolina two yard line, the ball is downed by rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins before bouncing into the end zone.
• DeAngelo Williams fumbles on the one yard line, the ball is recovered by Anthony Hargrove for the one yard touchdown and final score at 30-20.

New Orleans is 8-0 for the first time in it;s history and currently are the number one seed in the NFC and of course first in the NFC South with a commanding three game lead over their closest competiton the Atlanta Falcons. They will travel to St. Louis to take on the 1-7 Rams this Sunday at the Edwards Jones Dome.

If you would like to see a detailed break down of the game follow this link to view the gamecenter on NFL.com or this link the view the game sheet for a complete look at all the stat lines.

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