NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Cam Newton threw for three touchdowns and leaped high for another, and running back Jonathan Stewart rushed for 155 yards, including a 69-yard scoring scamper, as the Carolina Panthers ended an seven-game winless streak by routing the New Orleans Saints 41-10 Sunday at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The victory for Carolina (4-8-1) was its first since Oct. 5, and the Saints (5-8) lost their fourth consecutive home game. In their previous seven games, the Panthers recorded a tie and six consecutive losses.

The 31-point loss was tied for the most lopsided for the Saints in eight seasons under head coach Sean Payton. The Saints had not lost four consecutive games at home since 1999. As poorly as the Saints have played, however, they still could be tied for first place in the NFC South if Atlanta (5-7) loses Monday night at Green Bay.

It was the most points allowed by the Saints since a 55-21 loss against Indianapolis in 2003.

Newton completed 21-of-33 passes for 226 yards, and he ignited the Panthers’ recently dormant offense in the first half. Newton went 15-of-24 for 162 yards in the first half, including touchdown strikes of 9 yards to wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin on Carolina’s first series and 16 yards to a wide-open tight end Greg Olsen with 2:14 left in the half.

Newtown also rushed for 68 of his 83 yards in the first half, scoring on a leaping 2-yard dive on which he extended the ball over the goal-line. After the play, Newton flashed his trademark “Superman” pose, igniting a brief end zone melee that ended with the ejection of Carolina tight end Brandon Williams.

The Saints managed only a 37-yard field goal by Shayne Graham, cutting the Carolina lead to 17-3 early in the second quarter. But Graham badly hooked a 42-yard attempt wide left on New Orleans’ next series.

When Jonathan Stewart raced 69 yards untouched for a touchdown on a straight dive off right tackle on the Panthers’ first play of the second half, it was 31-3, drawing a thunder of boos from the home crowd.

Newton threw his third TD pass of the game on the next series, flipping a screen pass to backup running back Fozzy Whittaker on the left side, and Whittaker raced 26 yards before diving into the end zone for a 38-3 lead. Graham Gano added a 41-yard field goal, his second of the game, to end Carolina’s scoring.

NOTES: The Panthers entered the game averaging just 2.5 points in the first quarter, but they exploded for a 17-0 first-quarter. Carolina forced two turnovers on the Saints’ first three plays and converted them into 10 points. The first was a fumble by Mark Ingram, and the second was an interception of deep ball from Drew Brees by CB Bene Benwikere… QB Cam Newton ripped off his longest run of the season — 21 yards — in the first quarter, and then scampered for a 22-yard gain on the Panthers’ next series. … Rookie Jalen Saunders had the Saints’ longest punt returns of the season – 30 and 32 yards — but they led to just one field goal in the first half.