NFL Game Summary - Carolina at New Orleans

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - After a sleepless night in Seattle on Monday, a trip back home was exactly what New Orleans needed.

Drew Brees surgically picked apart the Carolina Panthers' top-ranked defense and the Saints drew first blood in the first of two critical meetings between the NFC South squads in three weeks.

Brees tossed four touchdown passes and the Saints snapped the Panthers' eight- game winning streak and regained solo possession of first place in the NFC South with a 31-13 victory.

Brees was stymied to 147 yards passing in the Saints' 34-7 loss to the Seahawks in the Pacific Northwest, but responded by throwing for 313 yards on 30-of-42 efficiency Sunday night.