NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees and the Saints' prolific offense never had to play from behind in their first five games.

Mastering the comeback in their last three has gotten New Orleans off to its best start in the franchise's 43-year history.

New Orleans moved to 8-0 yesterday when Brees overcame two early turnovers to pass for 330 yards and a touchdown in a 30-20 victory over Carolina (3-5).

"That's great. I mean, 1967 until now and we're the only (Saints) team to have done that," Brees said. "That's really special. I feel like we've got a special group of guys, a special team, and certainly we're not satisfied with just being 8-0. We have what it takes to just continue to win."

Starting with a favorable schedule during the next two weeks. The Saints play at St. Louis and Tampa Bay, who are a combined 2-14 this season, meaning New Orleans has a realistic chance to be 10-0 when New England — the only team to finish a regular season 16-0 — comes to the Louisiana Superdome the Monday night after Thanksgiving.

Before this season, the only 7-0 team New Orleans ever had was in 1991, a squad coached by Jim Mora and known for its defense.

While the Saints yesterday did not intercept a pass for the first time all season, their defense forced three turnovers on fumbles. The last produced New Orleans' seventh defensive touchdown of the season on Anthony Hargrove's strip, recovery and 1-yard return late in the fourth quarter.

It was Carolina's first loss in Louisiana since 2001 and quarterback Jake Delhomme's first loss in the Louisiana Superdome. The Panthers blew a 17-3 lead as the Saints improved to 5-0 at home this season.

"I'm encouraged with the fact that we've been able to win a few of these games and we haven't played our best football," Saints coach Sean Payton said.