Facing a challenging schedule ahead and hosting a Carolina Panthers team that won only two games last season, the New Orleans Saints found themselves in a crucial must-win scenario for the start of the 2024 NFL season. This matchup took place at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
The Saints kicked off the 2024 season with an impressive 47-10 victory over the Panthers, echoing their strong finish to the previous season, which ended with a dominant 48-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Both games were against division rivals, and the Saints’ performance this time marked the highest point total in franchise history for a season opener, surpassing their 45-point effort against the Detroit Lions in 2009, the same year they went on to win the Super Bowl.
While it may be premature to predict a Super Bowl run for the 2024 team based on just one game, fans of the Saints have ample reasons for optimism. Quarterback Derek Carr, who had an exceptional finish to the 2023 season, continued his high-level play. In their last six games last year, the Saints were 4-2 and averaged almost 29 points per game, a trend that carried over into their first outing of this year.
In a striking performance, the Saints scored on their first nine possessions, a feat the franchise has only accomplished twice before. The safety position, a key question mark for the defense, saw three different players come up with turnovers, illustrating a solid effort on both sides of the ball.
A few key observations from the game include:
– The Saints had several inactives: A.T. Perry, Khalen Saunders, D’Marco Jackson, Jaylan Ford, Dallin Holker, and John Ridgeway III.
– The offense showed clear changes, employing pre-snap movement and utilizing Taysom Hill as a running back while committing to the ground game from the start.
– Backup quarterback Jake Haener was selected to support Carr, with Spencer Rattler assigned as the third quarterback.
– A year prior, the Saints began the game with a fumble on the opening kickoff; this time, Rashid Shaheed returned it effectively until a holding penalty pushed them back to the 24-yard line.
– The Saints wasted no time, as Carr launched a 59-yard touchdown pass to Shaheed, quickly putting them in the lead.
On defense, Will Harris intercepted a poor throw from rookie quarterback Bryce Young on Carolina’s first play, and the Saints advanced their lead with a 57-yard field goal from Blake Grupe. They continued to dominate offensively with a steady mix of rushing and passing plays, including a touchdown from Carr to Foster Moreau.
By the end of the first half, the Saints had a commanding 30-3 lead, demonstrating a well-rounded performance highlighted by solid pass protection, efficient play-calling, and strong defense, including turnovers created by Tyrann Mathieu and Jordan Howden.
Despite a brief surge from Carolina in the second half, which saw them score their first touchdown, the Saints maintained control of the game. They added a final touchdown to seal the victory at 47-10.
Looking ahead, the Saints will face the Dallas Cowboys next week, a significant challenge that will test their mettle in a tough environment. While this victory served as a strong opener to the season, it will be crucial for them to maintain this momentum against stronger opponents in the weeks to come.