Steve Smith fought for yards through two tacklers to turn a short catch into a crucial first down, and John Kasay made a 52-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Carolina Panthers to a 16-13 victory over the winless New Orleans Saints on Sunday. Panthers players mobbed Kasay at midfield, along the edge of the Saints' fleur-de-lis emblem that is quickly turning from a symbol of civic pride to one of futility. The Saints (0-4) were supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, but now their chances of even competing for a playoff spot are extremely slim. Only the 1992 San Diego Chargers have fought back from an 0-4 start to do that since the NFL went to a 12-team playoff system in 1990.