By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer, WRAL

Carolina Panthers	10
New Orleans Saints	47
Final

The optimism and excitement surrounding a new season for the Carolina Panthers quickly evaporated in New Orleans. The Saints jumped on the Panthers from the beginning, cruising to a 47-10 win against Carolina to start the season.

The Saints quickly took the lead with a 59-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed.

All eyes are on former first round pick Bryce Young under the mentorship of new head coach Dave Canales, but that new era began rather poorly. Young threw an interception on his first pass of the game. New Orleans went on to score a field goal the following possession. Add another touchdown pass from Carr to Foster Moreau and the Panther trailed at the end of the first quarter 17-0.

According to the Fox broadcast, when going back to the last year and including the first quarter of this season, the Panthers went nine consecutive quarters without scoring, which is the longest streak by an NFL team in 24 seasons.

In the second quarter, it was more of the same. A fumble from second-year wide receiver Jonathan Mingo set up another Saints field goal. New Orleans added 13 points in the second quarter to make it 30-0, but the Panthers were able to get on the scoreboard with a 43-yard field goal from Eddie Pineiro as time expired.

In the fourth quarter, Young threw his second interception of the day, which the Saints turned into an Alvin Kamara touchdown run.

The Panther found the end zone for the first time this season and the first time since Christmas Eve against the Green Bay Packers after Young called his own number, rushing three yards on fourth and goal.

Saints kicker Blake Grupe made a 39-yard field goal to stretch the lead to 40-10 in the fourth quarter. Running back Jamaal Williams scampered to pay dirt on the following drive from 14 yards out to give New Orleans a 47-10 lead.

Young finished with 161 passing yards and two interceptions, completing just 43 percent of his passes. Carolina will play the Los Angeles Chargers in its home opener at Bank of America Stadium on Sep. 15 at 1 p.m.

Preview

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A glitzy, renovated Superdome will host two new-look offenses in Week 1 of an NFL season that also will end in New Orleans.

While the Saints and rebuilding Carolina Panthers are long shots to be in the dome when the Super Bowl is played there in February, New Orleans is urgently trying to end a three-year playoff absence.

Third-year coach Dennis Allen’s job security could hinge on the scheme brought in by new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who spent last season as an assistant with NFC champion San Francisco.

Kubiak aims to get the most out of quarterback Derek Carr, running back Alvin Kamara, receiver Chris Olave and versatile skill player Taysom Hill (a tight end, officially) with a system heavy on outside zone runs and play-action passes, and which provides the option of running different plays out of similar formations.

Carr said the new scheme diverges sharply from what Saints fans witnessed for a decade and a half under former coach Sean Payton, and for the past two seasons under former offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr., a Payton protege.

“It is going to be different than what they’re used to,” Carr said. “They’re going to see a lot of different things that’ll make it really hard for defenses.”

The Panthers finished with the worst record in the league last season at 2-15, but now have a new general manager in Dan Morgan, a new coach in Dave Canales and a revamped roster.

Canales addressed players shortly after his hire and asked them to put last season behind them. It hasn’t been talked about much since.

“If you look at the roster and the turnover that’s happened, it’s a new thing. It’s something new that we’re going to become, which I’m excited about,” Canales said. “We got a bunch of new guys to play with. Let’s learn each other. Let’s figure out a style that we know how to play.”

That message resonated with veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.

“We have a lot of new guys on our team that that don’t understand what was going on last year,” Thielen said. “That’s a good thing because we are just ready to play football.”

Line changes

The Saints have three new starters on the offensive line, including two tackles with not much experience. Rookie Taliese Fuaga, a first-round draft choice, is set to make his NFL debut at left tackle. Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-rounder who missed most of his rookie season with a foot injury and then lost the left tackle job last year, is set to start at right tackle.

“He’s doing everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s a super coachable guy,” Kubiak said of Penning. “A lot can be said about where he started and where he’s come from. He’s earned the right to go out there and play really well on Sunday.”

Carolina’s edges

The Panthers don’t have much experience at outside linebacker opposite veteran Jadeveon Clowney, which could impact their pass rush.

Carolina traded Brian Burns, a top defender in 2023, and lost starter Frankie Luvu to free agency. The Panthers added Clowney and D.J. Wonnum in free agency, but the latter will start the season on the physically unable to perform list, along with top backup Amare Barno.

That leaves Carolina with three edge rushers who’ve never recorded an NFL regular season sack — DJ Johnson, Eku Leota and waiver rookie claim Jamie Sheriff — vying for the spot opposite Clowney.

“We can’t be afraid to expose them” to games, Canales said. “We got to live with some of the lumps.”

Hostile interior

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL draft, returns to the Superdome, where he endured a miserable outing as a rookie.

Young was 13 of 36 for 137 yards and sacked four times as the Panthers were soundly defeated 28-6. He called it one of the loudest stadiums he played in as rookie.

“It’s an awesome environment and they have a great fan base,” Young said. “We’re expecting it to be loud.”

New target

Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is expected to be a focal point of the Panthers’ passing game.

Johnson had 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 for the Steelers and the Panthers believe he can get back to that form.

Backfield bonanza

The Saints’ defense ranked 10th against the pass last season and New Orleans’ secondary looks even deeper now. Despite trade speculation surrounding top cornerback Marshon Lattimore, he remains, along with Paulson Adebo, Alontae Taylor and rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Tyrann Mathieu, whose 33 interceptions are tied for second league-wide among active players, returns at safety.

“We got all our guys, they’re all healthy and they’re all motivated,” Mathieu said. “We’re in a good spot.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com