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Brees throws for three scores to extend Panthers' home woes

Nov 25, 2007 - 11:22 PM CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints have been inconsistent this season. One thing that has remained constant is the Carolina Panthers' inability to win at home.

Brees threw three touchdown passes and ran for another to help the Saints snap a two-game skid with a 31-6 victory over the Panthers on Sunday.

Brees completed 24-of-36 passes for 260 yards with an interception for New Orleans (5-6), which opened the season 0-4, won four straight and then dropped two in a row prior to this one.

Completing passes to nine different receivers, Brees helped the Saints convert 11-of-18 third downs and remain two games behind Tampa Bay (7-4) for first place in the NFC South.

"We wanted to dictate to them how the tempo for the game was going to feel," Brees said. "I think we really made an emphasis of this game. We really had to have this game. I think that when we're rolling, we can just open up the playbook.

"You gotta convert, though. You have to score touchdowns. When you get around the goal line, we have a lot of options."

New Orleans broke open the game in the third quarter with three touchdowns in three possessions by converting all five of its third downs.

"I thought we played one of our better games on all three phases," Saints coach Sean Payton. "Both sides of the ball did a good job on third down. Our guys battled well."

Meanwhile, John Kasay kicked a pair of field goals for Carolina (4-7), which turned the ball over four times and has lost seven straight home games dating to last season.

David Carr got the start in place of the 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who sat out with a stiff back, and completed just 10-of-22 passes for 95 yards and two interceptions.

"You just try to go out and make a play," Carr said. "It wasn't like we wanted to go out there and do what we were doing. They were efficient on offense and we weren't. We weren't consistent. We had plays in the beginning to make."

Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith played despite a shin injury, but was rendered irrelevant due to poor quarterback play. He caught six passes for just 47 yards.

New Orleans led, 10-6, at halftime thanks to a 1-yard pass from Brees to Lance Moore and a 46-yard field goal from Olindo Mare.

The Saints then opened the second half by driving 73 yards in nine plays and took a 17-6 lead as Brees hit tight end Billy Miller for a 1-yard score with 10:12 left in the third.

After a Carolina punt, Brees hit Marques Colston for 45 yards to the 42 and capped the scoring drive with an 8-yard run to put the Saints up, 24-6, with 6:14 left in the third.

The lead grew to 31-6 as Brees connected with Colston for a 4-yard score with 47 second remaining in the third period.

"We were able to come out and really translate what we did this week in practice," said Colston, who caught seven passes for 93 yards and a score. "We were able to get into a rhythm and and keep it going. That's going to be a key every week, not turning the ball over and getting turnovers on defense. We were able to do both today and you saw the outcome."

Carr was replaced late in the fourth quarter by backup Matt Moore, who completed 8-of-14 for 66 yards and an interception.

Carolina had just 84 total yards in the first half, and were outgained, 373-195.

"My take on it right now is that we are not a very good football team," Panthers coach John Fox said.