GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NFL: CAROLINA (2-2) at NEW ORLEANS (0-3)

NFL: CAROLINA (2-2) at NEW ORLEANS (0-3)

<h3>Saints looking for first win of season</h3>



Carolina (2-2) at New Orleans (0-3) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) - A season filled with great expectationsalready has turned sour for the New Orleans Saints.

One of three winless teams, the disappointing Saints host theNFC South rival Carolina Panthers on Sunday.


Expected to be among the favorites to represent the NFC in SuperBowl XLII, the Saints have come nowhere close to living up tothose lofty expectations. They join the Miami Dolphins (0-4)and St. Louis Rams (0-4) as the NFL's only winless teams

The Saints' problems could be pointed at quarterback Drew Brees,who has just one touchdown and seven interceptions and alaughable 57.1 rating.


Perhaps the bye week will help Brees turn around his struggles.Two weeks ago, he threw four interceptions as the Saints endureda 31-14 loss here to the Tennessee Titans.


Only five teams have made the playoffs following an 0-3 start,with the Buffalo Bills being the last in 1998.


"I'm not worried one bit," Brees said. "I'm a believer we'regoing to take whatever negative is thrown at us and turn it intoa positive.


The Saints' running game will have a different look with DeuceMcAllister (knee) out for the season. More of the burden willfall upon Reggie Bush, who has rushed for just 80 yards on 29carries (2.8) average.


There also is some turmoil surrounding the Panthers, who arecoming off last Sunday's 20-7 home loss to the Tampa BayBuccaneers. After the game in which the Panthers were dominatedon both sides of the ball, defensive tackle Kris Jenkins saidthe team lacked heart, passion and drive.


Against the Bucs, the Panthers managed just 236 total yards asDavid Carr started at quarterback in place of Jake Delhomme(elbow), who remains questionable.


Pro Bowl wide receiver Steve Smith also grew frustrated againstthe Bucs. Held to five catches for 32 yards, Smith was seenyelling at coaches on the phone on the sideline during thesecond half. He has six catches in the last two games afterpulling in 15 in the first two games.


Carolina has swept New Orleans each of the last two seasons.

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 14:55 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 23 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 13:19 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 36 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 0
NEW ORLEANS 0 10:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON NOR 47 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG CAR
JOHN KASAY 23 YD

CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 8:11 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 0 8:06 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 30 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG NOR
OLINDO MARE 25 YD

CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 3 3:27 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 3 3:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 20 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 3 1:33 LEFT, 1ST QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 34 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS
NOTE: CAROLINA QUARTERBACK DAVID CARR HAS LEFT THE GAME
AND HIS RETURN IS QUESTIONABLE.</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 3
NEW ORLEANS 3 0:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR

CAR BALL ON CAR 14 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CAROLINA 3 3
NEW ORLEANS 3 3 END, 1ST QTR

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER: CAR - FG, JOHN KASAY 23 YD, 6:49. Drive: 6
plays, 42 yards in 2:35. Key plays:
Marshall 34 yard interception
return to New Orleans 47; Carr
27-yard pass to King to New Orleans
11. CAROLINA 3-0
NOR - FG, OLINDO MARE 25 YD, 11:33. Drive: 12
plays, 64 yards in 4:44. Key plays:
Brees 32-yard pass to Henderson on
3rd-and-7 to Carolina 24; Brees
5-yard pass to Moore on 3rd-and 3
to Carolina 12. CAROLINA 3-3</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS
NOTE: MATT MOORE HAS REPLACED DAVID CARR AT QUARTERBACK
FOR CAROLINA.</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS
NOTE: CAROLINA QUARTERBACK DAVID CARR HAS SUFFERED A
BACK INJURY AND WILL NOT RETURN.</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG CAR
JOHN KASAY 35 YD

CAROLINA 6
NEW ORLEANS 3 11:22 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL
CAROLINA 6
NEW ORLEANS 3 11:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR

NOR BALL ON NOR 23 YD LINE
1ST AND 10</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 6
NEW ORLEANS 3 5:30 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA AT NEW ORLEANS
NOTE: CAROLINA CORNERBACK KEN LUCAS LEFT THE GAME IN THE
SECOND QUARTER WITH A SHOULDER INJURY. HIS RETURN
IS QUESTIONABLE.</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF

CAROLINA 6
NEW ORLEANS 3

NOR BALL ON CAR 9 YD LINE
2ND AND GOAL</div>

 

NFL: CAROLINA at NEW ORLEANS

<div class="pre">NFL FG NOR
OLINDO MARE 28 YD

CAROLINA 6
NEW ORLEANS 6 1:03 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>