Derek Carr dazzled with three touchdown passes, and the robust New Orleans Saints defense forced three turnovers to secure a resounding 47-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon, marking a triumphant season opener for both teams.
Carr, executing with surgical precision, completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards. He showcased the new offensive scheme crafted by the debutant offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, formerly with San Francisco. Under this fresh leadership, the Saints were unstoppable, scoring on their first nine possessions—an achievement not witnessed in any season opener since at least 2000!
On the other side of the field, rookie Bryce Young—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft—endured a tough initiation. Young managed to complete just 13 of 30 passes for 161 yards and threw two interceptions during the head coaching debut of Dave Canales, the former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator. The Panthers, who ended last season with a dismal 2-15 record, struggled to find any rhythm.
In a pivotal moment, Saints’ Jordan Howden picked off Young’s second interception early in the third quarter, setting up a drive that culminated in Alvin Kamara’s 1-yard touchdown run, pushing their lead to an overwhelming 37-3.
Young showed some grit, rushing for a 3-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal to trim the deficit to 37-10 late in the third quarter. However, it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.
Blake Grupe nailed a 39-yard field goal, and Jamaal Williams added a 14-yard touchdown run, extending New Orleans’ lead to 47-10 midway through the fourth quarter. This offensive explosion marked the Saints’ highest season-opener point total since their magical 2009 Super Bowl season!
The tone was set from the outset: on the very first possession, Carr threw a sizzling 59-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed. The Saints defense immediately capitalized on Carolina’s ensuing first offensive play, as Will Harris intercepted Young, providing New Orleans prime field position at Carolina’s 40-yard line. Grupe followed up with a career-long 57-yard field goal, pushing the early lead to 10-0.
Grupe continued his stellar day with a 44-yard field goal. Moments later, Tyrann Mathieu forced and recovered a fumble on Carolina’s 40, setting up Grupe for another massive 52-yard field goal, making it 23-0.
The Saints’ special teams also shined, with Shaheed’s electric 43-yard punt return leading to Carr’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson. Carolina managed a 43-yard field goal from Eddie Piniero, but the Saints went into halftime with a commanding 30–3 lead.
It was a day where New Orleans resonated with excellence, intensity, and precision, igniting the Superdome crowd and setting the stage for what could be a remarkable season.
