The 59-yard touchdown strike from New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed on the game’s opening drive set the tone for the game as the Carolina Panthers traveled south to take on the Saints in the season opener. Second year Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was intercepted by Will Harris on the very first play from scrimmage, setting up a 57 yard field goal by Blake Grupe. Carolina found themselves staring at a 10-0 deficit not even five minutes into the game.
It didn’t get any better from there as the Saints had their way with the Panthers defense, scoring on all of their remaining possessions in the half. Carolina committed their second turnover when wide receiver Jonathan Mingo fumbled and they didn’t put points on the board until Eddy Pineiro connected on a 3 yard field goal to go into the half down 30-3.
The Panthers started the second half much like the first, with Young being intercepted. This time, it was Jordan Howden with the pick, eventually leading to an Alvin Kamara touchdown to put the Saints up 37-3 with 8:27 to go in the third quarter. After miscue after miscue, the Panthers finally caught a break when Young scrambled up the middle for a 3 yard touchdown that almost wasn’t. The ball came loose in the end zone and officials had to take a minute to sort it out before crediting the Panthers with the score.
Meanwhile the Saints picked up where they left off, scoring on their first three possessions of the half. As a matter of fact, they did not punt until the 4:44 mark of the fourth quarter. Carolina certainly didn’t do themselves any favors. After Young was sacked on 3rd-and-8, Johnny Hekker’s punt was deflected, going only 11 yards. The Saints quickly capitalized 2 plays and 43 seconds later with a rushing touchdown by Jamal Williams for the final points of the game. Andy Dalton entered the game right before the 2-minute warning and the Panthers looked poised to go 3-and-out once again but a muffed punt was recovered by Feleipe Franks giving them two more snaps before accepting the 47-10 loss.
That was the highest point total scored in a season-opener in franchise history for the Saints. Young finished 13-of-30 for 161 yards and two interceptions while Carr threw for 200 yards and three touchdowns. Young was sacked four times – three of those by defensive back Alontae Taylor. Kamara led all rushers with 83 yards and one touchdown while Rashid Shaheed added 73 yards on 3 receptions. Carolina will lick their wounds before trying to right the ship at home next week against the Chargers.
