NEW ORLEANS – John Kasay kept the Carolina Panthers’ late-run for a playoff berth on track with six field goals Sunday in a 32-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

It was the Panthers’ fourth victory in a row and, in the weak NFC, their 5-7 record has them in the middle of the wild-card race.

The Saints (4-8) have lost three straight and seven of the last nine games. Some of the few fans remaining by the end of the game chanted “Fire Haslett” as the clock wound down, referring to beleaguered coach Jim Haslett.

The Panthers have shaken off the loss of 14 players to injuries. The defending NFC champions put the game out of reach early and stopped the Saints’ second-half effort with two interceptions, including one on the Carolina 11-yard line.

Kasay’s six field goals set a Panthers record; he kicked five in a game twice.

Delhomme, playing with a cast on his broken right thumb, completed 22 of 29 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown, making him the first Carolina quarterback to throw 20 touchdown passes in a season since Steve Beuerlein tossed 36 in 1999.

Nick Goings rushed for 122 yards on 36 carries and Muhsin Muhammad had 10 receptions for 179 yards against the NFL’s worst defense. The Saints are the only team to allow more than 400 yards per game (418.3) and Carolina gained 401. New Orleans has not held an opponent under 20 points in any game this season.

The offense is no better. New Orleans has not scored in the first quarter since Sept. 19. Against Carolina, it did not make a first down until the 2-minute warning in the first half.

The Saints had 280 yards in total offense, but only 74 yards in the first half.

Aaron Brooks completed 20 of 40 attempts for 251 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Horn had eight catches for 160 yards, giving him a 1,000-yard season for the fourth time in the last five years.

Deuce McAllister rushed for only 22 yards on seven carries, his lowest yardage of the season, except for the San Francisco game where he was injured on the third play.

The Saints fell behind in the first quarter for 11th straight game. Kasay capped the opening drive with a 30-yard field goal, then added a 50-yarder.

Kindal Moorehead then recovered McAllister’s fumble on the New Orleans 10 and Delhomme connected with Muhammad for a 10-yard TD.

Goings rushed for a 6-yard touchdown to open the second quarter. The 75-yard drive was fueled by a 51-yard reception by Muhammad.

Even when the Saints appeared to get a break, they spoiled it.

Mike McKenzie picked off a pass and returned it for 34 yards, only to be flagged for holding prior to the interception. Two plays later, defensive end Charles Grant drew a personal foul. Five plays after that, Kasay kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 23-0.

The Saints finally found the end zone with 1:38 left in the first half when Brooks hit Horn with a 13-yard pass.

But Kasay’s 25-yard field goal made it 26-7 at halftime.

The Saints scored on a 24-yard reception by Horn, then Kasay hit a pair of 21-yard field goals in the fourth quarter. Brooks hit Donte’ Stallworth for a 25-yard touchdown with 39 seconds remaining.

AP-ES-12-05-04 1653EST