Panthers 30, Saints 7

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A week after giving up sole possession of first place in the NFC South with a woeful road performance, the Panthers (5-2) were dominant again at home.

Drew Brees and the league’s second-ranked offense were no match in a 30-7 Carolina win.

Jake Delhomme threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns, Jonathan Stewart rushed for another score and the Panthers’ defense shut down the New Orleans Saints.

Brees, who came in leading the NFL in yards passing, was hounded all day. The Saints (3-4) couldn’t overcome the loss of Reggie Bush to a left knee injury and were smothered by the Panthers’ defense.

Coming in with an NFL-best 41 receptions, Bush hobbled off the field after a punt return late in the first half after aggravating a left knee injury that kept him out of practice part of last week.

Quoteworthy: “I think, honestly, we hardly made any mistakes offensively compared to that debacle that we had last week down in Tampa.” -- Steve Smith, Panthers receiver