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Live Updates: Follow All the Action and Analysis for Week 1's Panthers-Saints Game

Can't get the Saints game? Stay updated on the big action and get some notes from the press box.

John Hendrix

Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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NEW ORLEANS -- Today is the day that we hopefully see all of the words becoming action for the Saints. Week 1 sees them hosting the Panthers in the Superdome for an early opportunity to pick up a division win and start their season off on the right foot.

Of course, we're more interested in seeing what New Orleans does the following week, but until then, all eyes are on the new-look offense and Dennis Allen. Stay updated throughout the game with scoring, big plays and I'll add my notes and thoughts as the game unfolds.

Pregame Notes

Spencer Rattler sits in Week 1 for the Saints. Does that mean much?
Aug 25, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler (18) reacts to passing a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
  • A.T. Perry's hand injury shouldn't keep him out long, but it was something he was trying to play through. It happened in practice.
  • Spencer Rattler being designated as the emergency third quarterback essentially reinforces what I've been saying about the team's belief in Jake Haener. Rattler is exciting and the future is going to be interesting with him, but the rookie not being the primary backup to Derek Carr isn't exactly surprising.
  • Calling up Kendal Vickers and sitting John Ridgeway III isn't surprising. He got here via a trade late and still needs a little time to get caught up.
  • Will Harris was alongside Tyrann Mathieu during walkthroughs at the safety spot, which is what we saw at practice this week and prior to that.
  • With no Khalen Saunders not in the lineup, Bryan Bresee starts alongside Nathan Shepherd.
  • Not that there's any surprises here, but Lucas Patrick was at left guard and Trevor Penning at right tackle for the offensive line.
  • Late arriving crowd to the Superdome, but one could also say that it's not really that surprising. Tickets to this game weren't exactly setting the world on fire.

First Quarter - Saints 17, Panthers 0

Scoring

  • Saints, 12:08 (5-76, 2:52) - Rashid Shaheed 59-yard pass from Derek Carr.
  • Saints, 10:04 (4-1, 1:50) - Blake Grupe 57-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 1:23 (11-79, 5:38) - Foster Moreau 3-yard pass from Derek Carr.

Highlights

Notes

  • Nice run to start the game with Alvin Kamara on that right side. That's a good way to get some early confidence for Trevor Penning.
  • That's a heck of a way to kick off the Klint Kubiak era in New Orleans. Rashid Shaheed got behind Jaycee Horn on 3rd-and-4 and was able to connect with Derek Carr for a 59-yard score. That was beautiful.
  • First play for the Panthers offense couldn't have gone worse. Will Harris got an easy pick and returned it for 7 yards and then celebrated with a end zone slide celebration.
  • I was curious to see how the illegal formation penalties would be called early on given how they've been a hot button around the league. It wiped away a nice hookup to Chris Olave.
  • Alvin Kamara had a good run to get back a chunk of those yards following that penalty, but that drive went nowhere.
  • Big moment for Blake Grupe to knock through a 57-yard field goal to put the Saints up 10-0. It was an intense battle during training camp with Charlie Smyth, but he has the leg to make some solid kicks. That's a career long for Grupe.
  • Pre-snap motion, play action and runs being a staple for this Klint Kubiak offense. It's something fun to watch again.
  • For that 3rd-and-6, we got see Chase Young rotate in while Cam Jordan kicked inside. Jordan Howden was the extra defensive back. Young may not have got home, but he absolutely helped force an early throw by Bryce Young.
  • Alvin Kamara's day running the ball has been stellar so far. He is just averaging a cool 6.9 yards per carry (7-48).
  • Klint Kubiak is calling plays from the sideline. I know everyone was concerned about where he'd go before this game, but he's out there.
  • One of those Taysom Hill plays that are unique to him with a 12-yard run despite getting hit originally in what could have been a minimal gain.
  • Saints had 161 yards of offense in the first quarter. That's a heck of a start for Kubiak.

Second Quarter - Saints 30, Panthers 3

Scoring

  • Saints, 7:03 (9-48, 5:07) - Blake Grupe 44-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 2:08 (7-10, 3:57) - Blake Grupe 52-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 1:18 (1-16, 0:06) - Juwan Johnson 16-yard pass from Derek Carr.
  • Panthers, 0:00 (8-45, 1:18 - Eddy Piñeiro 43-yard field goal.

Notes

  • Ja'Tavion Sanders was guilty of a hold that wiped out a big Miles Sanders run, and Will Harris let him know all about it.
  • Really nice play by Alontae Taylor on the blitz to get home to Bryce Young for a sack.
  • Talk about really nice running. On the 3rd-and-7 play out to the right with Alvin Kamara that picked up 17, Trevor Penning was out front with a nice block but it was Cesar Ruiz who really helped that one.
  • Tyrann Mathieu forced the fumble and recovered it. The Panthers just can't get much going right now, but are we really surprised?
  • Nice hands by Foster Moreau following the Trevor Penning penalty that forced a 1st-and-20. He was outstanding in training camp and is doing a lot more early on.
  • Everyone was coming on the 3rd-and-6 play, and Alontae Taylor ended up picking up his second sack of the day by getting Bryce Young.
  • Rashid Shaheed put on his return skills again with a nice punt return late. He was so close to getting into the end zone.
  • I don't know how many times Andrew Janocko worked with the quarterbacks and their feet/mobility, but that was a great example of how it's paid off. That was a killer hookup to Juwan Johnson for a touchdown. Saints are on cruise control now.

Highlights

Third Quarter - Saints 37, Panthers 10

Scoring

  • Saints, 8:27 (9-57, 5:26) - Alvin Kamara 1-yard run.
  • Panthers, 5:00 (8-75, 3:27) - Bryce Young 3-yard run.

Notes

  • Left guard Lucas Patrick is questionable to return with a toe injury. Landon Young goes in for him.
  • Bryce Young should have never thrown that pass on 3rd-and-17, but Jordan Howden wasn't complaining. Another turnover for the Saints today.
  • Extremely late flag that came in on the Rashid Shaheed pass interference call. That wiped out a 3rd-and-19 for the Saints and was a 31-yard penalty on the Panthers. That's kinda how it's going.
  • Really liked the play design with Alvin Kamara with Ruiz and Penning out front. Penning slipped, but it worked still.
  • Another good play design on the screen to Kamara that got 18 yards after the Taliese Fuaga holding call that wiped out a touchdown run, but they went backwards right after with a delay of game.
  • Solid job by Demario Davis closing in on Bryce Young near the goal line to negate a Bryce young score. He was credited with a sack on the play.
  • Weird sequencing with the Bryce Young touchdown. It was talked about and then explained because it was a fumble on 4th Down, he's the only one who could pick it up. Ball did get knocked out, but they reviewed it and it was a score.
  • Marshon Lattimore has a hamstring injury and is questionable to return.
  • Jamaal Williams is getting some nice runs and looks today. That's great for him.
  • 50th career game for Alvin Kamara with 100+ yards from scrimmage. Got a nice ovation from the crowd.

Highlights

Fourth Quarter - Saints 47, Panthers 10

Scoring

  • Saints, 13:08 (12-43, 6:47) - Blake Grupe 39-yard field goal.
  • Saints, 10:38 (2-36, 0:43) - Jamaal Williams 14-yard run.

Notes

  • Blake Grupe hit his fourth field goal of the game. This is a great start for the second-year kicker.
  • Alontae Taylor has three sacks in the game. That's pretty wild. He might get a random drug test in the process.
  • Juwan Johnson had another great moment by getting a hand on a punt to set the Saints up with excellent field position.
  • Foster Moreau is absolutely going to get evaluated for a concussion. He had a nice hookup from Carr, but came up very loopy afterwards.
  • Good for Jamaal Williams to get into the end zone. Few, if any, actually work harder than he does. Everyone remembers the debacle from last year's finale.
  • The 47 points scored by the Saints in their regular season opener is the most they've had since 2009 against the Lions.
  • Willie Gay Jr. headed to the Saints locker room. He was questionable coming into the game with a back injury. Anfernee Orji is out there.
  • Jake Haener came in for Derek Carr late in the game with it well in-hand. Many reserves also came in.
  • First Matt Hayball punt of the day came with less than 5 minutes left in the game. That's a refreshment.
  • Moreau has a head injury and was officially ruled out for the rest of the game.

Highlights

Week 1 Saints-Panthers Coverage

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John Hendrix
JOHN HENDRIX

I officially started covering the New Orleans Saints & other NFL topics in 2011. My work has been featured on various outlets over the years. I worked closely with Skyhorse Publishing in Fall 2018 to update the book, Tales From the New Orleans Saints Sidelines, which filled in all Saints material from the 2013-2017 seasons. Prior to joining Saints News Network, I served as the Managing Editor of SB Nation's Canal Street Chronicles for 3.5 years, and before that with FanSided's Who Dat Dish as the Managing Editor for several years. I have also had experiences of being a freelance Saints reporter for The Sun Herald in Biloxi, MS and a contributing writer for WDSU, a local NBC TV station in New Orleans. I have appeared on a vast amount of TV and Radio shows, both nationally and locally. For tips, comments, or suggestions, please contact me at johnhendrix@saintsnews.net

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