For the first time in over a calendar year, the New Orleans Saints are on a winning streak.
Kicker Charlie Smyth, a native of northern Ireland who formerly was a Gaelic football goalkeeper, kicked his first game-winner from 47 yards to send the Saints to a 20-17 victory over the Panthers. The win came on the heels of an impressive upset of the Bucs in Tampa and sets up a fascinating run to the finish for both teams still in contention for the division crown.
"These moments here, you're going to cherish forever," Smyth told WWL on the field after the game, "so hopefully we get more of them down the line."
Smyth said his mother, sister and girlfriend were in the Superdome for the game.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough had more of his own rookie season heroics, leading both a game-tying drive for a touchdown late in the 4th quarter, followed by another impressive series to set up the game-winner. The Saints were on the verge of attempting a kick of nearly 60 yards before Shough was decked by Panthers safety Lathan Ransom after he gave himself up on a designed run. The play drew a flag for unnecessary roughness, moving the kick 15 yards closer. It was the second time Shough took a big hit on a run, though he did concede that he played up the hit a bit in the hopes of drawing a flag.
The penalty stopped the clock and Shough had to leave the field for a play, with backup Spencer Rattler handling the next snap for a time-killing throwaway. The final drive finished off a 10-point comeback and Shough's first win in the Superdome since taking over as the Saints' starter.
"It was huge," Shough said. "I think, for me [it was] just personal for all the guys. Coming back here, I felt like we had played well on the road, but we wanted to show the fans what we could here just as a team, collectively, just the resiliency. It was just a lot of fun. I was just proud of everybody."
Shough was the leading rusher and passer for the Saints, going 24-of-32 for 272 yards and a touchdown. Shough connected with eight different receivers. Chris Olave was the Saints’ top receiver, reeling in six receptions for 85 yards and that touchdown, all but one catch coming after halftime.
Starting running back Devin Neal recorded 28 yards and a touchdown on seven carries before leaving the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. His final play was an impressive 3-yard touchdown, plowing through multiple defenders. Neal's absence meant an increased workload for Evan Hull and Audric Estime, two players who were signed midseason. Estime's biggest moment came on a 19-yard screen during that final drive to set up the game-winner.
“We’re not going to be able to go to the playoffs this year, but we’re building something really special,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Every single guy in that locker room, the way they prepare and compete and stay together through each and every experience, you know, the last two weeks has been an awesome example.”
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young finished the day with 15 completions on 24 attempts for 163 yards and a touchdown. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle rushed for 69 yards and a score.
After forcing the Saints to punt following a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, the Panthers put the Saints in an early deficit. Despite leaving the game briefly with an injury, Dowdle put Carolina on the board, capping of the Panthers’ 13-play, 74-yard opening drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
After the teams traded punts, the Saints went on a drive that drained the vast majority of the second-quarter clock. Shough completed 8-of-9 passes for 79 yards downfield and into the red zone. Shough’s most critical play, however, was a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one at the Carolina six-yard line to give the Saints a first down. One play later, Neal found the end zone on a five-yard rush to the right end. Charlie Smyth’s extra point tied the game following the 17-play, 95-yard, 11:22 drive.
Carolina converted a fourth down of its own on the following drive with Young eluded a Carl Granderson rush on 4th and 3 to complete a 21-yard pass to Tetairoa McMillan at the New Orleans 21-yard line. Young tried to connect with McMillan again on strike to the end zone three plays later, but Saints defensive back Quincy Riley broke up the pass. That forced Carolina to settle for a 40-yard Ryan Fitzpatrick field goal with 21 seconds remaining in the second quarter, allowing the Panthers to take a 10-7 lead into halftime.
A busted Saints defensive play set up Carolina’s first score of the second half. Despite facing a heavy blitz, Young found a wide-open Xavier Legette, who weaved his way downfield behind three defensive backs for a 34-yard gain to put the ball at the New Orleans 33-yard line. Four plays later, Young hit receiver Jalen Coker with a rainbow for a 32-yard touchdown to close out the half’s opening drive. Riley said he lost the ball in the lights despite appearing to be in good coverage and removed his visor after the play.
The Saints offense went on another long, sustained drive their first time on the field in the second half, reaching the Carolina 14-yard line thanks in part to a pass interference call against the put the ball deep into Panthers territory. Two Shough sacks doomed the drive, forcing New Orleans to settle for a 42-yard Smyth field goal, making the score 17-10 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Saints stepped up to make a critical stop on the next drive. The Panthers offense worked its way to the New Orleans 35-yard line. Carolina challenged the spot of the ball after a third-down play, but the officials ruled the ball was short of the line of gain, setting up fourth-and-one. Saints defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard wrapped up Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard as he attempted to penetrate through the trenches, stopping him at the line of scrimmage and forcing a turnover on downs with 11 minutes left in the game.
New Orleans’s next drive ended in disaster. After reaching the Carolina 35-yard line, the Shough threw three incompletions. Smythe converted a 46-yard field goal on fourth-and-six, but a Panthers lineman jumped offside. The Saints took the three points off the board and elected to go for a first down. Shough scrambled and dived for the line to gain, but his knee touched the turf before the ball reached the first down marker, giving Carolina the ball back at the 31-yard line with seven minutes remaining on the clock. Adding injury to insult, Shough suffered an apparent back injury on that play, forcing him to go into the treatment tent on the sideline.
Shough missed no playing time, returning to lead the Saints offense on their next drive, which began after a three-and-out by the Panthers. Shough began the drive with three consecutive completions to Chris Olave for a total of 51 yards. After a penalty and an incompletion, Shough finished off the drive with a fourth completion to Olave, this one a 12-yard touchdown pass. Smyth’s extra point tied the game at 17 with 2:29 remaining on the clock.
The Saints defense saved its best performance for last in the final two minutes of the game. Chase Young sacked Young one play after the Carolina quarterback earned a first down on an 11-yard scramble. Young and his crew were unable to recover from the sack, forcing the Panthers to punt back to the Saints with 1:04 remaining in the game.
Shough looked like a seasoned veteran operating the Saints’ two-minute drill, completing two quick passes to running back Audric Estimé—one a screen pass and a short pass over the middle—for a total of 28 yards. Shought then threw another pass, this one for 15 yards, to Olave to put the ball at the Carolina 48-yard line. The Saints then forced the Panthers’ defense to commit an error they made earlier in the game. The Saints lured the Panthers into committing an unnecessary roughness penalty when Shough ran up the middle. Shough slid, but Panthers safety Lathan Ransom hit Shough after he gave himself up, triggering the penalty. That set up Smyth’s game-winning 47-yard field goal.
The Saints (4-10) will host the New York Jets (3-11) in their 2025 home finale next Sunday at noon. The Panthers (8-6) will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) next Sunday.