NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints' last-ranked defense has allowed more yards in a season than any defense in NFL history.
The Saints allowed 530 yards, raising their season total to 7,042 yards in Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers, surpassing the mark of 6,793 yards allowed by the 1981 Baltimore Colts.
The record has been set in the final game of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's first season with the team. Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who also coaches linebackers, was a third-year assistant with the '81 Colts.
Struggling to stop big plays all season, the Saints allowed Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams to break loose for a 65-yard run in the second quarter, which set up Mike Tolbert's touchdown.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
