Saints make it a one-possession game with late TD, trail 35-27

Score: Panthers 35, Saints 27

Scoring play: A one-yard sneak by Drew Brees.

Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards, 2:54

Key play: A 24-yard reception from Drew Brees to Darren Sproles. Sproles caught the ball near the line of scrimmage and took off down the field on second day

Time of game: 1:55 left in the fourth quarter.

Worth mentioning: Both teams have two timeouts remaining. The Saints could have used scoring before the two-minute warning to buy another timeout when the Panthers have the ball. Still, Carolina will have to get the onside kick and a first down to salt the game away.

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Score: Panthers 35, Saints 20

Scoring play: A five-yard rush by Cam Newton.

Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:58

Key play: A 66-yard reception by a wide-open Steve Smith down the far sideline. Smith, who has been battling cramps, caught the first pass of the drive and put Carolina on the New Orleans 14.

Time of game: 9:55 in the fourth quarter

Worth mentioning: The replacement refs have now twice refused to give Newton the ball following a touchdown. Last year, Newton would give the ball to a fan in the stands, but twice he asked for the ball and twice he has been denied.

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Score: Panthers 28, Saints 20

Scoring play: A one-yard touchdown rush by Mark Ingram.

Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 3:55

Key play: A 29-yard pass from Drew Brees to Pierre Thomas got the Saints in Panther territory, where four plays later they got on the board once again.

Time of game: 12:53 in the fourth quarter

Worth mentioning: It's the first New Orleans score since the 53-yard field goal with 7:08 left in the second quarter. Drew Brees went down late in the third quarter with a left leg injury. He got his ankle taped and came back the next series.

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Score: Panthers 28, Saints 13

Scoring play: A three-yard touchdown rush by DeAngelo Williams.

Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards

Key play: A 27-yard rush by Williams from the New Orleans 44 put the Panthers in the red zone once again. The play followed Jonathan Stewart's 16-yard gain. 

Time of game: 8:17 in the third quarter

Worth mentioning: After getting a pass interference call go his way near the end zone, Steve Smith went down in the middle of the field with a leg injury. It appeared to be a cramp, and he got up quickly and limped to the sideline. There, trainers looked at his right leg, which is the same leg on which he had a brace on his knee. After Williams' TD, Smith was carted off the field.

--Jonathan Jones