The Panthers:
- Improved to 12-3 in December under coach Ron Rivera.
- Won on the road for the first time since Week 1 at Tampa Bay.
- Gained their third-most total yards in a single game in franchise history.
- Rushed for 271 yards, the third-highest total in team history.
- Tied for the fourth-most points in a single game in franchise history.
- Scored 17 points in the first quarter after totaling just 30 first-quarter points through their first 12 games.
- Scored a first-quarter touchdown for the first time since Week 10 and for just the fourth time this season.
- Scored their most first-half points (24) since they scored 24 in the opening half of their Week 15 win at San Diego in 2012.
- Scored touchdowns on three of their five trips inside the red zone. They scored just two touchdowns on nine red-zone trips during their previous five games.
- Scored five touchdowns and kicked two field goals in their first 10 possessions.
- Led for 56:42. During their six-game losing streak, they led for a total of 42:41.
- Did not have a turnover for the first time since their Week 2 win over the Lions. They averaged two turnovers per game in Weeks 3-13.
- Allowed the fewest points in their series against the Saints since they allowed 10 on 1/3/10.
The Saints:
- Had 310 yards, their fewest since they were held to 188 by the Seahawks on 12/2/13. The Saints gained 195 of their yards in the fourth quarter.
- Tied their largest margin of defeat in the Sean Payton-Drew Brees era. They also lost by 31 points to the Colts in the 2007 season opener.
- Were 1-for-9 on third down during the first three quarters. They came in with the NFL’s best third-down offense, with a 50.0 percent conversion rate.
- Have lost four straight games at home in a single season for the first time since 1999.
Panthers:
- QB Cam Newton accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) for the first time since Week 6 at Minnesota last season. He also snapped his franchise-record streak of eight straight games with an interception.
- RB Jonathan Stewart had a career-long 69-yard touchdown run. His 155 rushing yards were the second-most of his career (206 vs NYG on 12/27/09).
- FB Mike Tolbert had his longest reception (18 yards) since he had an 18-yarder against the Bills in Week 2 last year.
- WR Kelvin Benjamin caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive, but of his five targets, those were his only receptions.
- TE Greg Olsen had a single-game career-high 10 receptions for 72 yards. Olsen now has 850 receiving yards this year, which breaks his team record (843, 2012) for most receiving yards by a TE in a single season.
- DE Mario Addison had a sack to up his single-season career high to six.
- DT Kawann Short had his second sack of the season, and his first since Week 5.
- LB Luke Kuechly had two pass breakups. He now has eight this season, which ties his career high (2012).
- CB Josh Norman had his first-career forced fumble.
- CB Bené Benwikere grabbed his first-career interception during his first start at outside CB.
- S Roman Harper had three pass breakups, his most since he was with the Saints in a game vs. the Chargers on 10/7/12.
Saints:
- QB Drew Brees had a passer rating (69.7) under 70 for just the third time in 18 meetings with the Panthers. His 235 passing yards were his third fewest against Carolina since he had 231 on 10/19/08.
- RB Mark Ingram lost a fumble for just the second time in his four-year career.
- TE Jimmy Graham snapped a streak of six-straight games against the Panthers with a touchdown.
Black and Blue Review