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| Chris Graythen / Getty Images |
| DeAngelo Williams set a new Panthers record for rushing yards in a season. |
It was over when ...
Saints QB Drew Brees' desperation pass was knocked away, ending his shot at breaking Dan Marino's single-season passing record and also handing the Panthers the NFC's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye. Brees finished 16 yards shy of tying the mark.
Game ball
When the Panthers needed him most, dimunitive WR Steve Smith once again came to the rescue. His 39-yard catch over double coverage kick-started Carolina's winning drive, and he finished with five catches for 134 yards.
Key stat
In a tight game, the Saints' two turnovers proved costly. The Panthers turned the miscues into 14 points.
Noteworthy
The Saints scored 21 points to start the fourth quarter and take a 31-30 lead, but John Kasay's 42-yard field goal with one second remaining gave the Panthers the win. ... Carolina will host a second-round playoff game for the first time since 1996. ... The Panthers became the first team to win a divisional road game this year in the NFC South. ... Carolina RB DeAngelo Williams ended the season with a franchise-record 1,515 rushing yards. ... Despite falling short of Marino's record, Brees still became only the second QB in league history with 5,000 passing yards in a season, finishing with 5,069.
