The Saints Dominate
A new season means a fresh start, and the Saints start to the 2024 NFL season could not have been fresher. In their home opener, the Saints dominated the Panthers 47-10 in what was a lopsided game right from the opening kick.
The Saints offense, under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, started off swinging as an early third down resulted in a 59-yard bomb from Derek Carr to Rasheed Shaheed to give the Saints their first touchdown of the year.
The early energy from the offense was quickly matched by the Saints defense, who picked off Bryce Young in their first play of the entire season. New Orleans defense feasted all night, forcing three turnovers and never giving Young a moment of comfort throughout the entire game. Great defense leads to great offense, and Carr, Kamara, and company capitalized on the short fields often given to them.
At halftime, the Saints had 229 net yards compared to just 74 from Carolina, resulting in a 30-3 lead that practically ended the game midway through. Special teams also played a key role in the win. Kicker Black Grupe kicked a perfect game, where he made four field goals, including one from 57 yards that could've been good from at least 65. Rasheed Shaheed also contributed to the special teams as the punt returner, returning a punt late in the second quarter for 47 yards, leading to a touchdown that put the Saints up 30-3.
The win against Carolina was key for the Saints. Not only was it a divisional win, it was one that gives the team some needed breathing room as it faces two tough NFC East opponents back-to-back in the Cowboys and Eagles. Let's hope that Carr and company can build off of their hot start as the season continues.
