New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers - Mercedes-Benz Superdome - Dec. 30, 2018 - Game Notes

• The Saints finish the season with the NFC's No. 1 seed for the second time in franchise history.
• The Saints finish with a 13-3 record, tying the 2009 and 2011 teams for the best record in franchise history.
• After securing the NFC's top seed after last week's win over Pittsburgh, New Orleans will have a bye before the divisional round of the playoffs hosted in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
• The Saints now have a streak of 272 regular season games without having been shut out, dating to a 26-20 win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 6, 2002 at Raymond James Stadium, the longest running streak in the NFL and the fifth-longest all-time.
• The Saints finished with 49.0 sacks on the season, tied for ninth in team record books with the 2013 team and tied with that club for the highest takedown total during Coach Sean Payton's 13-season tenure with the Saints.
• New Orleans rushed for 184 yards on 27 carries (6.8 average), the second-highest total of the season to the 244 at Cincinnati on Nov. 11.
• QB Drew Brees, who was inactive, officially broke the NFL record for single-season completion percentage (74.4) for the fourth time in his career, shattering his own record (72.0) from a season ago. Brees has started 217 of 220 games for the Saints (regular season and postseason) since signing as a free agent before the 2006 season. The three other quarterbacks to start for New Orleans since Brees signed with the team are Luke McCown, Sept. 27, 2015 at Carolina; Mark Brunell Jan. 3, 2010 at Carolina; and Teddy Bridgewater, Dec. 30, 2018 vs. Carolina (Sunday).
• Brees' five interceptions for 2018 are the lowest in his career except for his 2001 rookie campaign when he appeared in only one contest.
• Bridgewater completed 14-of-22 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown and one interception in his first start since the Jan. 3. 2016 NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Seattle as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Bridgewater threw his first touchdown pass since December 27, 2015 vs. the New York Giants.
• QB Taysom Hill rushed three times for 11 yards and one touchdown.
• RB Mark Ingram played in his 106th career game, carrying the ball five times for 28 yards.
• RB Dwayne Washington set a career-high with 108 yards rushing on 11 carries. He tied a career-high with a 28-yard rush.
• TE Benjamin Watson hauled in two passes for 29 yards.
• WR Michael Thomas became the single-season team record holder for receiving yards (1,405), surpassing Joe Horn's 1,399 in 2004. Thomas' 125 receptions are the fifth-highest single-season total in NFL record books.
• WR Tre'Quan Smith caught three passes for 30 yards and one touchdown.
• The New Orleans defense surrendered only 3.0 yards per carry on 37 rushes.
• DT David Onyemata split a sack with DE Marcus Davenport. Davenport's 4.5 sacks were the most by a Saints rookie since Will Smith's 7.5 takedowns in 2004.
• DE Cameron Jordan played in his 128th consecutive game, tallying one quarterback hit.
• DE Trey Hendrickson notched five solo tackles.
• LB Craig Robertson and Manti Te'o recorded five solo tackles.
• LB Alex Anzalone notched a team-high seven total tackles (five solo).
• S Marcus Williams finished with five tackles (four solo).
• S Vonn Bell recorded six total tackles (four solo).
• P Thomas Morstead punted five times for 210 yards (42.0 avg.) with a long of 54 yards.