Drew Brees hit Darren Sproles for a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the New Orleans Saints a 45-17 lead against Carolina with 12:15 left in the game.
The drive went 68 yards on seven plays in 3:50.
Sproles is closing in on the NFL record for all purpose yards. The records just keep coming for the Saints.
Kevin Spain, The Times-Picayune
The New Orleans Saints beat NFC South rival Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome 45-17 and finished the regular season 13-3.
They will host a playoff game at the Dome next Saturday. The times hasn’t been set yet.
Drew Brees threw for 389 yards and five touchdowns, extending his games with a touchdown pass to 43, four behind Johnny Unitas.
Several records went down in the game — Darren Sproles passed Derrick Mason for most all-purpose yards in NFL history, Jimmy Graham passed Kellen Winslow for most yards receiving by a tight end and Brees padded his passing yardage total.
wwltv.com
METAIRIE, La. — The NFL let several Saints players know that they can wear black and gold and nothing else.
In addition to running back Pierre Thomas, receivers Devery Henderson, Lance Moore, Marques Colston and Robert Meachem were fined $5,000 for wearing red and green tape around their ankles during New Orleans’ win over Atlanta Monday night
New Orleans Saints tailback Mark Ingram (toe), receiver Lance Moore (hamstring) and tight end John Gilmore (toe) were ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) and safety Malcolm Jenkins (neck) are listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis. Cornerback Patrick Robinson and linebacker Jonathan Casillas are listed as probable.
Bradley Handwerger / WWLTV.com Sports Reporter
METAIRIE, La. ― Present-wrapping bows at your local corner store likely cost no more than a dollar.
For Pierre Thomas, one small golden bow cost much, much more.
The NFL fined the Saints’ running back $7,500 for using a prop after scoring a touchdown in New Orleans’ 45-16 win over Atlanta.
Additionally, Thomas was fined $5,000 for wearing red and green tape on his wrists, a violation of the league’s uniform policy.
“It was an expensive bow I just gave out,” Thomas said.
By Thursday afternoon, teammates were having fun with Thomas. Linebacker Scott Shanle pinned a giant red bow on top of the letters Thomas received from the NFL notifying him of the fines.
Thomas laughed when asked about it, but said he felt good about the gesture after the touchdown, which ended with him giving one lucky fan the football he scored with.
“That’s something I wanted to do,” Thomas said. “I heard she was very happy and very grateful for it. I’m just happy I could make somebody’s Christmas and the New Orleans Saints game enjoyable, too, to watch.”
Thanks to the whims of the NFL scheduling formula, the New Orleans Saints will have to make a second trip to Green Bay to play the Packers next season.
In fact, depending on what happens in the NFC playoffs, next season’s trip could be the Saints’ third to Lambeau Field in a one-year span. Before this year’s season opener on Sept. 8, won by the Packers 42-34, the Saints had played only three games in the hallowed stadium.
When Renee Beech Smith saw running back Pierre Thomas pull out a bow after scoring the New Orleans Saints’ first touchdown Monday night, she knew some fan was going to be getting a late Christmas present. The lifelong Saints fan just didn’t realize it would be her.
Thomas, whose four-yard touchdown paved the way for the Saints’ 45-16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, stuck the gold bow on the football and brought it right to Smith.
“It made me one of the happiest people, happiest Saints fans in the world,” Smith said. “At this point I just want to keep it and hold on to it.”
New Orleans (5)
Drew Brees, quarterback
Jermon Bushrod, tackle
* Jahri Evans, guard
* Jimmy Graham, tight end
* Carl Nicks, guard
* Asterisk denotes starter
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