NEW ORLEANS — Cam Newton passed for five touchdowns, capped by a 15-yard scoring strike to Jerricho Cotchery with 1:05 to go, and the unbeaten Carolina Panthers wrapped up the NFC South title with a 41-38 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Carolina, the only remaining unbeaten team in the NFL, has the ninth 12-0 start in league history.

Newton, who was 28 of 41 for 331 yards, twice had to lead the Panthers back from fourth-quarter deficits as the Saints (4-8) tried desperately to avoid a four-game losing streak. Jonathan Stewart had a 5-yard scoring run on a pitch from Newton.

Drew Brees passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

Eagles 35, Patriots 28

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Najee Goode scored on a blocked punt, Malcolm Jenkins returned an interception 99 yards for another touchdown and Philadelphia held on for an improbable victory over New England.

Darren Sproles returned a punt 83 yards for the Eagles’ second special teams touchdown, giving Philadelphia a 21-point lead before the Patriots came charging back.

Tom Brady threw for a touchdown to make it a two-score game and then, after an onside kick, ran it in from the 1 yard-line to cut it to seven points with 3 minutes left.

New England’s second onside kick failed, but the Patriots (10-2) forced a third-down fumble to give Brady one more chance.

The comeback fell short when Brady’s passes bounced out of his receivers’ hands.

Cardinals 27, Rams 3

ST. LOUIS — Running backs David Johnson and Kerwynn Williams scored a touchdown apiece and Arizona stuffed St. Louis.

Johnson, a rookie, had 99 yards on 22 carries in his first start and caught one of two TD passes by Carson Palmer, who led an offense that rolled up 524 yards. Williams scored his first career TD on a 35-yard run.

Larry Fitzgerald made his 1,000th reception and topped 1,000 yards for the seventh time.