Halftime update: Panthers 17, Saints 6

Three times in the second quarter, the Panthers' defense kept the vaunted Saints offense out of the end zone after New Orleans had moved inside the Carolina 20.

The Saints managed just two field goals from the three opportunities and trailed Carolina by 11 points at halftime.

The Saints drove to the Carolina 5 early in the second quarter, but settled for John Carney's 23-yard field goal.

Moments later, Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart fumbled away the ball back to the Saints when they recovered at the Carolina 16.

That New Orleans possession lasted only one play, however, when quarterback Drew Brees' pass was intercepted by Carolina cornerback Chris Gamble and returned to the Panthers' 45.

Carolina converted the turnover into a 32-yard field goal by John Kasay and a 17-3 lead.

On the Saints' final possession of the half, they drove from their 17 to inside the Carolina 7, but Brees threw three consecutive incompletions and Carney was called on for a 25-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in the half to cut the Panthers' lead to 17-6.

Linebacker Jon Beason had a key deflection away from tight end Jeremy Shockey on the second-down pass from the 7.

-- Charles Chandler