Derek Carr threw three touchdown passes, the New Orleans defense forced three turnovers and the host Saints routed the Carolina Panthers 47-10 on Sunday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.
Carr completed 19 of 23 passes for 200 yards while operating an offense implemented by former San Francisco passing game coordinator Klint Kubiak, who made his debut as an NFL offensive coordinator. The Saints clicked under Kubiak by becoming the first team since at least 2000 to score on its first nine possessions in a season opener.
Bryce Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall draft choice, completed 13 of 30 for 161 yards with two interceptions in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dave Canales’ debut as head coach of the Panthers, who were an NFL-worst 2-15 last season.
Jordan Howden made the second interception of Young early in the third quarter and the Saints, who were 9-8 last season, drove to Alvin Kamara’s 1-yard touchdown run and a 37-3 lead. Kamara finished with 83 yards on 15 carries and added five catches for 27 yards.
Young scrambled for a 3-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal to trim the lead to 37-10 at the end of the third quarter.
Blake Grupe kicked a 39-yard field goal and Jamaal Williams ran 14 yards for a touchdown that expanded the lead to 47-10 midway through the fourth quarter. New Orleans scored its most points in a season opener since their Super Bowl season of 2009.
On the first possession of the game Carr threw a 59-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed, who had three catches for a game-high 73 yards.
On the Panthers’ first offensive play Young was intercepted by Will Harris, giving New Orleans a first down at the Carolina 40-yard line. The Saints didn’t get a first down and Grupe kicked a career-long 57-yard field to increase the lead to 10-0.
Carr’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Foster Moreau pushed the lead to 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Grupe kicked a 44-yard field goal and after Tyrann Mathieu forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Panthers’ 40, Grupe added a 52-yarder for a 23-0 lead.
Shaheed’s 43-yard punt return led to Carr’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson before Eddie Piniero kicked a 43-yard field goal for Carolina’s first points, leaving New Orleans with a 30-3 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
