If you like defensive struggles, the inability to move the ball consistently on offense, and field goals, then this was the perfect game for you! Both defenses looked good on Monday Night in the Saints vs. Panthers matchup, but part of that was going up against two below-average offenses.
The Panthers opened up the scoring on their first drive of the game. After forcing a Saints punt on the opening drive, it took Carolina nine plays to go just 31 yards. Luckily, they took over from their own 35-yard line, so that was enough to get them into Eddy Pineiro’s range to make it 3-0 on a 52-yard field goal.
That would do it for the Panthers in terms of scoring in the first half. As I said, Carolina’s opening drive went 31 yards. The rest of their first-half drives COMBINED for just 37 yards. Bryce Young closed the half with just 66 yards passing on 8-of-13 passing. He was also sacked twice. The Panthers couldn’t get the ground game going either, as they ran for just 25 yards.
The Saints were a little bit better, but not by much. After punting on their opening drive, New Orleans put together two extended drives of 15 and 12 plays. They weren’t able to finish either with a touchdown, however, as they settled for two field goals. Both teams turned the ball over once in the first half. Bryce Young was stripped on one of his sacks, while Derek Carr threw a really bad, underthrown ball for an interception.
The second half is where things picked up, well, at least if you’re a Saints fan. The offense got going for New Orleans thanks to Tony Jones Jr, who finished off a pair of touchdown drives with some physical running, as well as Chris Olave, who made a few big grabs to set up those scores.
Olave finished the night with six receptions and 86 yards on 11 targets. He came oh so close to a touchdown reception as he tried to tightrope his way down the sideline, but the review showed he was just out of bounds.
Bryce Young and Carolina weren’t much better offensively in the second half. Prior to their field goal drive in the fourth quarter, the Panthers picked up just one first down on three possessions. Young did lead the Panthers down the field for a score in garbage time. He made a few nice throws and efficiently ran the two-minute drill finding. The No. 1 overall pick capped off an 11-play, 75-yard drive, hitting Adam Thielen for a three-yard TD pass as well as a two-point conversion attempt. Carolina finished with just 239 yards of offense on the night.
After two weeks, neither NFC South team looks like much of a threat to do much damage outside of the division, but the Saints have proven they can play defense and make enough plays offensively to compete for an NFC South title.
Bryce Young and the Panthers still seem to be trying to find their way, but that’s okay; they have all season for that. It’s unfortunate for them (but VERY fortunate for Bears fans) that they won’t have their first-round draft pick. However, as long as Young develops throughout the year and makes strides as a quarterback, this season will likely be considered a successful one for Carolina.
This is unrelated to this game, but I wish all the best to Nick Chubb of the Browns after his gruesome injury in the other Monday Night Football game tonight against the Steelers. It’s very unlikely we see Chubb for the rest of the 2023 season. Hopefully, by next year, he can make a full recovery.
