It was all smiles in Carolina as the New Orleans Saints finished their 2019 regular season with a flourish as they crushed the Panthers 42-10.

It was all about the fast start for New Orleans in this one as they scored 35 unanswered points to begin this one and the rout was on heading into halftime as they led 35-3.

Drew Brees was masterful as he continued his strong play to close out the regular season as he didn't need to play the entire game. He went 19/30 for 253 yards and three touchdowns spreading the wealth by hitting Tre'Quan Smith, Taysom Hill, and Jared Cook each for scores.

The ground game was humming along as well as Latavius Murray got the lion share of the carries with 17 for 61 yards and Alvin Kamara gathered two touchdowns on eight carries for 39 yards.

On defense, the newcomer Janoris Jenkins recorded his first pick as a Saint and A.J. Klein had an interception return for a touchdown.

The lone bright spot in this one for Carolina was Christian McCaffrey who become the third player in NFL history to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a single season. He joins Marshall Faulk and Roger Craig as the only players to accomplish that feat. 

The Saints are still locked into the #3 seed for the NFC Playoffs as of now since the Green Bay Packers were able to overcome a 14 point deficit in Detriot and defeated the Lions 23-20. Mason Crosby hit a 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Pack to victory.

New Orleans will remain the #3 seed unless the Seattle Seahawks defeat the SF 49ers Sunday night. If that happens then the Packers will finish #1, Saints #2, Seahawks #3. If the 49ers defeat Seattle then the 49ers are #1, Packers #2, and Saints #3.

Here's some of what Drew Brees had to say following a 13-3 regular season:

 

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