For the final week of the 2011/12 NFL regular season, Drew Brees and his 12-3 New Orleans Saints will welcome Cam Newton and the 6-9 Carolina Panthers to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, January 1, 2012. Newton has impressed in such a way in his rookie season as to be the hands-down favorite for “Rookie of the Year” honors.

Carolina leads the head-to-head series against the Saints 17-16 up to this point. New Orleans, however, has won the last 3 in a row, 4 out of the last 5 and has an opportunity to even the series up next week. The Saints beat the Panthers earlier this season in Charlotte on October 9, in week 5, by the final score of 30-27.

Goals still left for the Saints to accomplish in this season:

1) End the season with a bang by winning all Home-Sweet-Dome games and making possible the unlikely scenario of securing the number 2 seed in the NFC away from the 49ers.

2) Protect Drew Brees‘ new season high passing record from being surpassed by Tom Brady (only 190 yards behind Brees at present).

3) Potentially collect a couple more records for players Jimmy Graham (2012 Pro Bowl starter) and Darren Sproles.