Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (18) reaches for the pylon as New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay (6) defends in the second qarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Chuba Hubbard ran 16 yards with 2:18 remaining for his second touchdown as the Carolina Panthers pulled out a 23-22 victory against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C., to end a five-game losing streak.
Carolina’s two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Saints picked up only one first down before a failed fourth-down play near midfield clinched Carolina’s first home victory of the season in four tries.
Quarterback Bryce Young threw for 171 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Panthers (2-7).
New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 155 yards on 29 carries and accounted for 60 receiving yards on six catches, but the Saints (2-7) suffered their seventh consecutive loss.
Saints quarterback Derek Carr, who had missed the previous three games because of an oblique injury, was 18-for-31 for 236 yards and a touchdown.
Carolina got the ball at its 36-yard line following a New Orleans punt to begin the game-winning drive with 3:26 remaining in regulation.
The Panthers posted their first second-half touchdown by driving 86 yards on the opening possession of the second half. Hubbard ran in from 1 yard out, but their 17-13 lead didn’t last long.
New Orleans used 12 plays to set up Blake Grupe’s 51-yard field goal for a 17-16 deficit.
After a Carolina punt, the Saints marched 70 yards in 11 plays to take the lead on Carr’s 17-yard pass to Foster Moreau, though a two-point conversion pass failed.
Shemar Jean-Charles made his first career interception to get the ball back for the Saints, who then failed to convert for points.
New Orleans had the only first-quarter scoring on Grupe’s field goals from 29 and 33 yards out, but those came amid a scary stretch for the Saints.
Receiver Chris Olave was taken off the field on a backboard after attempting to make a catch across the middle and absorbing hits from a pair of Carolina defenders. Olave, a former first-round draft pick, was treated at a nearby hospital, but the Saints reported that he was moving all extremities and out of the hospital prior to the end of the game.
The Panthers went ahead with Young’s 3-yard hook-up with Xavier Legette. The Saints regained the lead when Taysom Hill ran 7 yards for a touchdown.
Carolina completed the first-half scoring on Eddy Pineiro’s 48-yard field goal 38 seconds before halftime.
It was a rematch of the Saints’ 47-10 season-opening victory at home on Sept. 8.
–Field Level Media
