3 THINGS TO WATCH

BREES, WILLIAMS CHASING HISTORY: New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees needs 402 yards to become the NFL's single-season passing leader. He's got 4,683 and Miami's Dan Marino threw for 5,084 in 1984. Brees seldom gets sacked (11 times this season) and if the Panthers' banged-up defense can't get pressure on him, his odds of getting the record are pretty good. With the Saints out of the playoffs, they're certain to give Brees every chance to break it. Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams needs one touchdown run of 30 yards or more to tie Jim Brown's season record of seven, set in 1958.

Panthers GRINDING IT OUT: With Brees (and his arm) probably the Saints' best chance at winning, look for the Panthers' offense to go for long, sustained drives to keep him off the field. That should mean big doses of the rushing tandem of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

D-LINE'S INJURY WOES: Never heard of Nick Hayden or J'Vonne Parker? Wait until today's game, especially if Panthers starting defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu (ankle) and Damione Lewis (shoulder) don't play because of injuries. Hayden and Parker have been on practice squads this week, but were recently signed by the Panthers to shore up the defensive line's numbers. Actually, if Brees throws a lot (and he will), ends Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson will line up inside as they often do in their nickel defense. But the absence of Kemoeatu and Lewis would definitely hurt the Panthers' depth.

KEY TO THE GAME

KEN LUCAS

Panthers CORNERBACK

He will lead a secondary that's sure to be under pressure all day from the Saints, who want quarterback Drew Brees to get the NFL's single-season passing record.

He's got two interceptions this season -- one against the Saints and Brees in their first meeting. He returned it 31 yards.

Lance Moore

Saints RECEIVER

Moore leads the Saints with 71 catches for 837 yards and eight touchdowns.

He's Brees' go-to guy now, with Reggie Bush out for the season and tight end Jeremy Shockey out of the game with an ankle injury.

Panthers INSIDER

The Panthers have gotten some big plays on offense this season, which might explain why in eight of their 15 previous games this season, the opposition's offense has had more time of possession. But it also might mean that Carolina's defense is having a hard time getting off the field, which is never a good thing.

Last week's loss against the New York Giants -- when the defense allowed 301 yards on the ground -- was the biggest time differential of the season (39 minutes, 7 seconds of possession for the Giants, 25:56 for the Panthers). The Giants had scoring drives of 7:38 and 8:38, while the Panthers' longest drive was 5:26 (which resulted in a first-quarter touchdown).

There have been Panthers victories in which the opposition has had the ball for a substantially longer time -- Green Bay (37:52-22:08), Detroit (34:17-25:43) and Oakland (37:02-22:58). But in the Raiders game, for instance, three turnovers cost the Raiders and the Panthers' lone touchdown came on a 69-yard run by DeAngelo Williams on the first play of a drive.

And the Panthers have had more big plays on offense than their opposition: They've had 41 pass plays of 20 yards or more (36 for opponents) and 54 running plays of 10 yards or more (46 for the opposition). That running number was 50-38 before the Giants game

KEY STATS

Panthers

1 Field goal needed by John Kasay to tie Nick Lowery for seventh place in NFL history (383).

3-4 Panthers' record on the road this season.

18 Panthers' NFL rank in run defense last week.

22 Panthers' NFL rank in run defense this week (after allowing 301 yards against Giants).

2,203 Rushing yards this season, a franchise record (broke mark of 2,091 from 2003 last week).

Saints

6 Consecutive games in which RB Pierre Thomas has scored at least one touchdown (tying franchise record).

9 Quarterbacks between Saints' Drew Brees and Dan Marino on all-time single-season passing yardage list. Brees needs 402 yards today to pass those nine and break Marino's record of 5,084.

11 Sacks allowed by Saints this season.

15 Franchise record for sacks allowed.