Preview Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans

-The play the Titans used to win the game in overtime was a throwback pass where Marcus Mariota rolled to his right and threw back to the left to tight end Anthony Fasano, who had slipped out the back side of the formation and was wide open for the TD.

Two days later, the Titans sacked Ken Whisenhunt as head coach, handing things to Mularkey for the balance of the season.

Mariota got the touchdown with an 8-yard slant to wide receiver Justin Hunter, making it 28-26 with 7:06 left, and interim coach Mike Mularkey chose to go for a two-point conversion.

However, the away team would pull themselves in freakish fashion as Delanie Walker seized on a tipped deep pass from Marcus Mariota, and the tight end crossed the goal-line unopposed as two Saints defensive backs ran into each other as they attempted to intercept the ball.

-SPECIAL TEAMS: C-plus. Ryan Succop has only missed one field-goal attempt this season, that one a possible game-winner from 55 yards against the Saints that hit the crossbar.

Brees led the Saints to a touchdown on their first possession, highlighted by a 25 yard completion to Brandin Cooks and a 30 yard strike to Brandon Coleman.

Brees was 28 of 39 for 387 yards and three touchdowns.

The Titans end a six-game losing streak and are 2-6 on the season.

“I’m still shaking”, Mularkey said.

Panthers 37, Packers 29: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Cam Newton threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Carolina took an important step toward securing home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a win over Green Bay.

The rest of the NFL’s quarterbacks have managed only four such games all season, according to STATS. Walker was able to catch fire after that play, and caught another touchdown on the following drive. If they can protect QB Marcus Mariota and give him sufficient time to throw the football, then the rookie seems to have the goods to deliver on a consistent basis.

The game looked as if it would end with a Saint field goal as time was running out. “So we’ll keep doing that and hopefully we will keep pulling out a few of these wins”.

ABOUT THE SAINTS (4-4): Brees was a slam dunk for the NFC Offensive Player of the Week honor as he joined Hall-of-Famer Y.A. Tittle as the only player in National Football League history to throw for at least 500 yards (505) and seven touchdowns in a game. “We’ve got to find a way to put pressure on those guys, especially a rookie quarterback”, Lewis said.

Sunday also marked Mariota’s return from a knee sprain that sidelined him for two games. But even if fans get that change they want to see, they can’t expect a full turnaround mid-season – that’s just not how it works.

The Titans battled their way to a 34-28 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome Sunday to make a victor of Mularkey in his Titans debut. The drive was kept alive by two roughing the passer calls on Titans linemen Karl Klug and Jurrell Casey. For them to come out and respond like they did in an emotional, roller coaster of a game – there were numerous times they could have said it’s over, and they never did.

Payton didn’t just single out the defense on a day when there was plenty of blame to go around.