New Orleans Saints
The Saints made the first big play of the second half as Delhomme was picked off by McKenzie at the Carolina 25 and returned the interception 12 yards to the 13. New Orleans used McAllister five straight times as they drove to the Panthers 1. On third down and goal, Brooks lost the handle on a pass attempt, which was ruled a sack, and CB Ricky Manning, Jr. recovered for the Panthers at their 3.
The defense came up big again on Carolina's next series as CB Jason Craft intercepted Delhomme at the Panthers 27 with 7:57 left in the third quarter. A 17-yard reception that was upheld by replay by Conwell moved the ball to the Panthers 14. Runs of seven and one yards by McAllister set up a third-and-2 at the 6. McAllister was bottled up for a four-yard loss on the play and Carney came on for a 29-yard field goal with 4:31 remaining in the quarter as the Saints extended their lead to 17-7.
Late in the quarter, the Panthers drew to 17-14 as Carolina got a key defensive pass interference call on third down and goal at the Saints 4. The automatic first down at the New Orleans 1 resulted in a Panthers TD on the next play as RB Stephen Davis ran in for the score with 21 seconds to play.
Carney's second field goal of the day, a 48-yarder, extended the New Orleans lead to 20-14 with 11:56 to play in the fourth quarter.
Penalties hurt the Panthers on their next possession as they went from a first-and-10 at the Saints 11 to a first-and-25 at the 26 after offensive pass interference and an illegal formation call on consecutive plays. Two passes for the end zone by Delhomme were caught, but both times Smith was out of bounds and Kasay made a 39-yard field goal to draw Carolina to 20-17 with 6:17 on the clock.
The Saints moved the ball and the clock to under four minutes, but were forced to punt. P Mitch Berger got a great bounce deep in Panthers territory and the Saints downed the ball at the Carolina 9 with 2:59 to play.
Delhomme moved the Saints on a eight-play drive, which included a 21-yard pass interference call to the New Orleans 45. Delhomme then hit RB Nick Goings for 11 and four yards to push the ball to the Saints 30. Three plays later, Kasay tied the contest and set up the final Saints heroics.
Brooks was 18-of-24 passing for 192 yards for the Saints while McAllister had 26 carries for 64 yards and the two scores. Conwell tied a career high with six receptions for 71 yards, but had to leave the game with a concussion and a displaced jaw on a hit late in the third quarter.
Delhomme was 19-of-31 passing for 212 yards, one TD and two interceptions for the Panthers. Davis finished with 13 carries for 81 yards and Smith caught eight passes for 138 yards for Carolina.
Time of possession, which was an offseason point of emphasis for the Saints, went New Orleans way, 32:26 to 27:24. Included in that was 10:14 in the first quarter -- 9:37 on the opening drive.
