By Pat Welter, WRAL Sports

Okay let’s try this again. Week 1 the Panthers got absolutely obliterated by the New Orleans Saints. 47-10. Bryce Young was intercepted on his first pass, thus beginning a vexing season if I’m putting it lightly.

Since then, Young has been benched and the Saints have been severely injured, but for this game the Saints are about as healthy as they’ve been since week 1 and Young has been reinstated. Young started last week in a 28-14 loss at Denver. Dave Canales went back to him this week despite the poor performance to give Andy Dalton more time to recover from his sprained thumb.

On the opening Saints drive, New Orleans gashed Carolina’s defense with Alvin Kamara. As easy as it was to get down the field, Carolina held in the redzone forcing a field goal.

After a Panthers punt the game came to a halt when Saints receiver Chris Olave took a hard high hit from Xavier Woods. Unnecessary roughness was called on the play. Both teams took knees and watched as Olave was taken off the field on a stretcher. The broadcast reported Olave officially had a concussion, but was able to move.

https://x.com/SaintsPR/status/1853144457677275459

Once play resumed the Saints continued to control the line of scrimmage with Alvin Kamara and the run game, but once again Carolina held the Saints to a field goal and a 6-0 lead.

Young with a couple nice third down conversions on a drive to start the second quarter. Young capped it off with a short touchdown pass to rookie Xavier Legette and a 7-6 lead. The sequence was one of the best of Young’s career. That’s both saying a lot and not much at all.

The Saints responded with another run fueled drive. Kamara did the majority of the work, but Taysom Hill capped it off with a seven yard run and a 13-7 lead.

With a couple minutes left in the half the Panthers chose to punt in Saints territory. A conservative decision for a team with nothing to lose, but the Saints rewarded them by giving it right back. Eddie Pineiro hit a 48 yard field with :38 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 13-10 at the half.

The Panthers offense took another stride to start the 3rd quarter. Young hit rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders on a short pass that turned into a 46 yard gain after Sanders broke a tackle. It was the longest play for the Panthers this season. The Panthers didn’t waste the explosive play. Bryce Young had a nice rush down to the one yard line and then Chuba Hubbard finished the drive to give Carolina a 17-13 lead.

The Panthers defense held its own on a Saints drive aided by a fake punt and a fourth down conversion, but ultimately ended in a field goal to cut the Panthers lead to one.

Playing a competitive NFL game is a step that shouldn’t be taken for granted, but learning to win is another. Derek Carr showed his veteran poise with an eleven play drive ending with a 17 yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau for a 22-17 lead.

With 9:14 remaining Young looked like he had the big play he needed to kick start a clutch drive. He rolled out and hit Legette deep along the sideline. Legette was well on his way to completing the catch when Saints corner Shemar Jean-Charles took it right out of his hands. Legette left the game in the first half with what appeared to be a hand or wrist injury, have to wonder if it affected the strength of his grip there.

The defense got Carolina the ball back and Young had his moment. He hit Legette deep over the middle on third down, then Sanders drew a pass interference call to get Carolina into the redzone and Hubbard did the rest. A 17 yard score gave the Panthers a 23-22 lead. They failed to convert a two point conversion.

It takes all three phases to win and the defense did their part. Carr’s pass on 4th and 4 fell incomplete and the Panthers were able to kneel it out. Carolina wins 23-22, the third career win for Young.  It doesn’t mean he’s a franchise QB, but it’s a start.

Source: wralsportsfan.com