The last time the Carolina Panthers faced the New Orleans Saints, the game ended with an embarrassing 47-10 season-opening loss. However, both teams look a bit different since then. Both teams have shuffled starting quarterbacks and had roster shake ups. Carolina has lost veteran starters Shaq Thompson and Derrick Brown for the season, traded receiver Diontae Johnson, and were without Adam Thielen as he works his way back from a hamstring injury suffered in Week Three. New Orleans hasn’t been so lucky either, losing receiver Rashid Shaheed to injured reserve and Marshon Lattimore was ruled out as he deals with a hamstring injury. Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn says that Week One was an anomaly and he expected a much different performance on the defensive side of the ball as players have had more time to gel. The Saints also haven’t looked like the team that put up nearly 50 points eight weeks ago, dropping their last six games.

The Saints’ first two possessions ended in field goals and they led 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. They lost receiver Chris Olave in the first quarter after a collision with Panthers defenders Xavier Woods and Mike Jackson. Carolina got on the board when Bryce Young connected with rookie Xavier Legette in the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead early in the second quarter. The lead was short-lived as the Saints countered with a touchdown of their own on the next drive. Taysom Hill powered into the end zone with a 7-yard carry to put New Orleans up 13-7. Legette left the game with a left hand injury but returned in the second half. Eddy Pineiro’s 48 yard field goal brought the Panthers within 3 as they headed into the intermission.

Coming out of the break, it was the Ja’Tavion Sanders Party as the rookie tight end had two huge receptions for 46 and 21 yards to set up the 1-yard touchdown carry by Chuba Hubbard. On their next possession, the Saints twice converted on fourth down and capped the drive with a 51 yard field goal by Blake Grupe to draw within one point. Carolina went into the final period with the slimmest of leads but the Saints were driving. A 17-yard strike from Carr to Foster Moreau in the end zone over safety Xavier Legette gave New Orleans a 22-17 lead with 11:55 left in the game after the 2-point conversion failed. History seemed doomed to repeat itself when a promising Panthers drive ended with a peculiar interception by Shemar Jean-Charles, who had just been elevated from the Saints’ practice squad. Back to back holding calls stunted the Saints progress and they ended up eventually punting. After the Panthers went three-and-out quickly, it was up to the defense to keep hope alive – and they did; forcing the Saints to punt yet again. After incomplete passes on the first two downs, Young connected with Legette deep in the middle of the field for 26 yards to move the chains and keep the drive alive. A defensive pass interference penalty on Demario Davis on the very next play put the ball at the 16. Hubbard took the handoff and raced up the middle for the score and the lead with 2:18 to play. A failed two-point conversation made it a one point game. 

After a 16 yard completion to Juwan Johnson put the Saints at the 40, the Carolina defense locked in, sacking Carr for a loss of six on second down and stopping Alvin Tamara short of the sticks on third down. As the ball fell incomplete near the Panthers sideline with Jackson in coverage, the Panthers could taste their second win of the season, their first in the division. It was Young’s second start back since being benched after the Week Two loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and he continued to show improvement, finishing with 171 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Hubbard led the rushing attack with 72 yards and two touchdowns while Sanders led receivers with 87 yards. 

The Panthers defense certainly looked better than they did in Week One, but the Saints still amassed 427 total net yards of offense en route to their seventh straight loss after starting the season 0-2. According to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, the Saints became the first team in 20 years to outgain their opponent by more than 150 yards, run for more than 150 yards, and win the turnover battle, and still lose. Prior to today, teams had gone 275-0 with that formula. Two teams that seemed to be on completely opposite trajectories after Week One, suddenly find themselves with identical 2-7 records. The Panthers hope to keep up the momentum as they travel to Germany to take on the New York Giants. 

Sheena Quick

Sports mom/accountant/life-long athlete and lover of all sports.