NFL Scores Week 5: Saints Outlast Panthers In Shootout, 30-27

Drew Brees and the Saints remain on top of the NFC South after staving off Cam Newton’s feisty Panthers.

Oct 9, 2011, 8:20 PM UTC

CHARLOTTE NC - NOVEMBER 07: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints calls a play against the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on November 7 2010 in Charlotte North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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The Saints got all they could handle from sensational rookie Cam Newton and the Panthers. But New Orleans prevailed 30-27 after a fourth quarter comeback led by their Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

Drew Brees threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, and piloted the Saints on a 12-play, 89-yard game-winning touchdown drive that ended with less than a minute of clock left for Newton and the Panthers to operate. Brees tossed touchdown passes to Pierre Thomas and Jed Collins, and found tight end Jimmy Graham eight times for 129 yards.

Newton wasn't as spectacular as he had been in the first four weeks of the season, but he threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another score, and enabled the Panthers to run an option pitch to DeAngelo Williams that Williams took 69 yards for a touchdown.

The Saints also got a field goal in the first half after an ill-timed timeout by Ron Rivera’s Panthers; it turned out to be significant, possibly deciding, given the final margin of victory.

With the win, the Saints improve to 4-1 in 2011. The Panthers drop to 1-4 on the season with the loss.

For more on the Saints, head to SB Nation’s Canal Street Chronicles; for more on the Panthers, head to Cat Scratch Reader. For Week 5 NFL scores and news and Week 5 NFL video highlights, visit our comprehensive StoryStreams.

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