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Kasay, Panthers keep struggling Saints winless

Oct 7, 2007 - 9:53 PM NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- John Kasay continued the New Orleans Saints' nightmare season.

Kasay kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal with three seconds remaining Sunday to lift the Carolina Panthers to a 16-13 victory over the winless Saints.

It was the 11th career game-winning field goal for Kasay, who helped the Panthers (3-2) bounce back from last week's home loss to the NFC South Division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"It doesn't get old and it doesn't get any easier," Kasay said of his game-winning kick. "It's important that I've done this before and that I have confidence in my snapper and holder. They set you up and make you look good."

On the other hand, the defending division champion Saints (0-4) clearly are a far cry from the 2006 team which reached the NFC championship game.

Carolina backup quarterback David Carr moved the Panthers into Kasay's range, driving his team 21 yards to the New Orleans 25-yard line.

Carr converted a pair of third-down completions for first downs to Keary Colbert and Steve Smith, keeping the drive alive and setting the stage for Kasay, who calmly drilled the game-winner with room to spare.

"He's done that quite a few times for us," Panthers coach John Fox said. "He was doing that long before I got here, and he's done it a few times during my six years."

Saints kicker Olindo Mare, who had a field goal blocked earlier in the fourth quarter by Julius Peppers, missed a 54-yard attempt with 2:19 left, setting up the Panthers' winning drive.

Prior to Mare's miss the teams traded interceptions. Carolina safety Chris Harris picked off a Brees pass and returned it to the New Orleans 37-yard line.

The Saints answered two plays later when cornerback Mike McKenzie intercepted a Carr pass and brought it back 33 yards to the Carolina 37.

But New Orleans could move the ball only one yard on its next three plays and settled for Mare's long attempt which was wide left.

"Olindo has a pulled hamstring," Kasay said. "To be able to go out try that kick takes a lot. He gave it a good effort."

The Saints entered the fourth quarter with a 13-6 lead after fullback Mike Karney rumbled into the end zone on a 2-yard scoring run. Brees connected with Devery Henderson for a 54-yard completion down to the 2-yard line to set up Karney's scoring run.

Carolina struck back as Carr directed a 12-play drive that covered 85 yards, capped off with a 17-yard TD pass to Smith.

Neither team could get in the end zone in the first half as they entered halftime knotted at 6-6. Kasay kicked field goals of 23 and 35 yards for Carolina while Mare hit from 25 and 28 yards for New Orleans.

Already filling in for injured starter Jake Delhomme, Carr injured his back at 1:48 of the first quarter when defensive end Will Smith sacked him on third down.

"When I got hit, I just felt terrible," Carr said. "It was like I got sat on and twisted, and every bone in my back popped, all the way up to my neck. I was rolling around out there like an idiot. It was the worst pain I ever felt in my life."

Free agent Matt Moore, a rookie from Oregon State, replaced Carr and moved the Panthers 69 yards to their second field goal and a 6-3 lead.

During that drive, Moore threaded his first NFL pass between two defenders and into Colbert's hands for a 43-yard gain.

Carr returned to the lineup in the final minute of the half and didn't miss another snap. He finished 10-for-17 for 119 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

"It was like someone was stabbing me in the back every time I threw," Carr said. "It wasn't fun, but I had to do it for these guys."

With 10 carries for 54 yards in the first half, New Orleans halfback Reggie Bush was on pace for the second 100-yard rushing game of his career and his first in the Louisiana Superdome.

But Bush finished with 21 carries for just 67 yards and also caught nine passes for 52 yards.

"We've got to keep working, doing little things well and not making mistakes at the end of the game," Bush said. "We can't drive 95 yards and not score and get a field goal blocked.

"There was fundamental stuff that a high school team could do that we weren't doing."

The struggles also continued for Brees, who was 29-for-47 for 252 yards and a pair of interceptions.

"The fourth quarter was pretty much like our whole season - the blocked field goal, the interception," Brees said. "We've got to find a way to get some confidence, win a game.

"It's frustrating. We got beat those first three games. This time we lost it."