Cam Newton, Panthers Fight Through Torrential Downpours to Take Down Saints, Clinch Playoff Bid (Videos)

One knock on the New Orleans Saints is that, as a dome team, their performance plummets when they’re forced to play in poor weather. Well, the conditions in Carolina on Sunday were about as bad as can be.

After a relatively uneventful first half — play-wise and weather-wise — the skies opened up in Charlotte, forcing the Saints and Panthers to brave a Jumanji-esque monsoon for much of the third quarter.

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The weather eventually relented, clearing up in time for Cam Newton to lead a game-winning drive in the final minute of the fourth quarter. Trailing 13-10, Newton hit Ted Ginn and Greg Olsen for passes of 39 and 14 yards, respectively, before hooking up with Domenik Hixon for the go-ahead touchdown with 23 seconds to play.

The win, Carolina’s seventh in eight home games this season, secured the Panthers’ first playoff bid since 2008. They can clinch the NFC South with a win in Atlanta next Sunday.

GIFs via SB Nation