The New Orleans Saints are coming off perhaps the most emotional victory in team history. Now, they're hoping that momentum will carry over to the rest of their season.

First-place New Orleans looks to remain unbeaten when it visits the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a rematch of yet another emotional game that involved Katrina.

The Saints (3-0) returned to the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina and pulled off a surprisingly convincing 23-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons. New Orleans scored their first touchdown on a blocked punt that rolled into the end zone and their second on a double reverse, a play the Saints had nicknamed "The Superdome Special.''

The Saints even blocked a field goal in front of a raucous crowd of 70,003 in their rebuilt home stadium - which just more than a year earlier had been a makeshift and miserable shelter for hurricane victims.

"From the moment I signed with the Saints, I was looking forward to this,'' said quarterback Drew Brees, who joined New Orleans during the offseason. "It was a great night. It's something we'll never forget.''

Of course, the NFC South-leading Saints realize that after all the celebration and partying that marked their return to the Superdome, they still have a long season ahead. Last year, the Saints earned a 23-20 win over the Panthers in their first regular season game following Katrina, then stumbled to a 3-13 record while playing "home'' games in San Antonio, Baton Rouge and East Rutherford, N.J.

In 2002, they started the season 7-2 but missed the playoffs.

"The way we see it is we won three games, and I can tell you that winning three games in a (whole) season is not that fun,'' said Steve Gleason, who blocked the punt that led to the Saints' first score. "So we've got a long ways to go.''

New Orleans' defense, largely comprised of unheralded players, has keyed the team's early surge. The Saints rank second in the NFC with 266.7 yards allowed per game and held the Falcons, who had gained 558 rushing yards in their first two games, to 117 yards on the ground.

Atlanta's Michael Vick threw for just 137 yards on 12-of-37 passing and was sacked five times.

"We're not a finished product and we're going to keep building and growing,'' linebacker Scott Fujita said. "If people want to underestimate us, good, please do.''

Brees has completed 62 of 99 passes and thrown for three touchdowns, and with the tandem of Deuce McAllister and No. 2 draft pick Reggie Bush getting most of the carries, New Orleans has rushed for 350 yards.

Bush, who ran for 53 yards on 13 carries against the Falcons, is still looking for his first NFL touchdown.

"Whether you call it, luck or momentum or the blessings of God, a lot's gone our way,'' offensive lineman Jonathan Stinchcomb said. "We just got to keep going in that direction and hope the cards keep turning up in our favor.''

The Panthers (1-2) finally broke out of an offensive slump in their 26-24 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. Carolina scored one total touchdown in losses to Atlanta and Minnesota before getting a pair of scores from receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

Johnson, who signed with the Panthers in the offseason, caught a 31-yard touchdown pass, ran for another TD and had an 18-yard reception on Carolina's game-winning drive that set up John Kasay's last-second field goal. Johnson is one receiving yard shy of becoming the 26th player in NFL history with 10,000.

Star receiver Steve Smith, who missed all four preseason games and the first two regular season games with two strained hamstrings and an ingrown toenail, returned and had seven catches for 112 yards. Smith led the NFL with 1,563 receiving yards and tied Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald for the league lead with 103 receptions last season.

"There's no doubt he makes us a better team,'' said quarterback Jake Delhomme, who was 22-of-36 for 272 yards and one touchdown. "I think we're getting better, but I think it coincided also with him playing.''

Kasay kicked field goals of 51, 50, 49 and 46 yards, becoming the first in NFL history to make four field goals of 46 or more yards in the same game. The last remaining member of Carolina's inaugural 1995 team, Kasay has made all eight of his field-goal attempts this season, including three from 50 yards or more.

The Panthers defense also looked better, holding the Buccaneers to 64 rushing yards and 209 total yards after giving up 750 total yards in the first two games.

Carolina and New Orleans have split 22 meetings, but the Panthers have won five of the last seven matchups. In last year's meeting at Charlotte on Sept. 11, Smith had eight catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, but John Carney's 47-yard field goal with 1:01 remaining lifted the Saints to the victory.