Saints snatch another divisional win in dramatic fashion, a last-second field goal sealing their latest victory over the Panthers.
For the second consecutive week, the New Orleans Saints played spoiler against a divisional opponent with something to gain in the standings, then walked it off late to steal a win anyway.
New Orleans beat the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Sunday at the Superdome, capped by a 47-yard game-winning field goal from Charlie Smyth with two seconds left to break a 17-17 tie.
Carolina came out sharper and set the tone early. The Panthers opened the scoring on a 4-yard Rico Dowdle touchdown run, then added a field goal later to build a lead that felt pretty stable given how the Saints offense was moving in chunks but not finishing drives. New Orleans did answer with a touchdown of its own to keep it close, but at halftime it was still 10-7 Panthers, and it felt like the Saints were hanging around but might not have enough.
Then Carolina landed the punch that looked like it might end it. In the third quarter, Bryce Young hit Jalen Coker for a gorgeous 32-yard touchdown, dropping it in over the top to push the lead to 17-7. Down 10, the Saints were in that uncomfortable spot where every mistake feels fatal, especially with Alvin Kamara out and the offense needing somebody else to carry the load.
Instead of folding, the Saints just kept chipping away. Smyth drilled a 42-yard field goal late in the third to make it 17-10 and keep the pressure on. And the moment that flipped the entire game came with a little over seven minutes left. Smyth hit from 46 yards to make it a four-point game, but Carolina jumped offsides, wiping out the kick and extending the drive. The Saints didn’t waste it.
With 2:29 left, Tyler Shough capped the push by finding Chris Olave for a 12-yard touchdown to tie it at 17-17. From there, the Saints defense rose up, with Chase Young and that front making life miserable in a hurry. New Orleans got the ball back, pushed into range, then a late unnecessary roughness penalty tacked on extra yards and basically turned a stressful kick into a manageable one.
Smyth did the rest.
Shough finished 24-of-32 for 272 yards and a TD, Olave again looked like the clear centerpiece of the passing game, and the Saints have suddenly found real late-season momentum. Next up is the New York Jets at home with a chance to keep the streak rolling and keep building something heading into the offseason.