Carolina’s Rico Dowdle entered Sunday’s averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He was bottled up against the New Orleans Saints, gaining just 53 yards on 18 carries. Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

The New Orleans Saints stifled the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, holding them to just 175 yards of total offense on the way to a stunning 17-7 victory in Charlotte, N.C.

Tyler Shough gouged the Panthers for 282 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard scoring toss to Chris Olave. Alvin Kamara added 83 rushing yards on 22 carries.

The Panthers were outgained 388-175 and committed two turnovers. Quarterback Bryce Young was particularly ineffective, passing for just 124 yards on 25 attempts. He was intercepted once, lost a fumble and was sacked twice.

It was only the second win of the season for New Orleans, which snapped a four-game losing streak to move to 2-8. The Panthers, who had won four of their last five games, saw their record level out at 5-5.

All that Panthers momentum … gone

So much for momentum. The Panthers had won four out of their past five games and were coming off what appeared to be a turning-point victory last week when they beat the Packers in Green Bay. But with a chance to improve to two games above .500 staring right at them at home against the one-win Saints, who arrived at Bank of America Stadium riding a four-game losing streak, the Panthers managed just 175 yards of offense, 73 rushing yards and just 3.5 yards per play. — Ken Bradley, NFL senior editor

Tyler Shough shines in second career start

Shough looked comfortable in just his second career start. He was efficient, completing more than 70 percent of his passes. He kept the ball out of danger, committing zero turnovers. And, despite being sacked twice, he kept his cool and came up with big plays when he needed them. His huge touchdown pass to Olave came on third-and-8 in the second quarter and gave the Saints their first lead of the game. His second scoring pass, a 30-yarder to Juwan Johnson, came on third-and-12 and essentially iced the game. Shough became the first rookie quarterback to win a game for the Saints since Dave Wilson in 1981. — Bob Harkins, deputy managing editor, Daily Desk

Tyler Shough to Juwan Johnson to extend the Saints lead!

NOvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/JIHgAowlFE

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

Stopping Dowdle proves crucial

The Saints had a straightforward game plan: They weren’t going to let red-hot running back Rico Dowdle beat them — and he did not. Dowdle entered the game averaging 5.6 yards per carry after a 130-yard outing in the win last week at Green Bay. He was bottled up Sunday, gaining just 53 yards on 18 carries (2.9 ypc) with a long run of 14 yards, which came on Carolina’s second possession. Dowdle had been bothered by a quad injury throughout the week, and he was seen on the sideline stretching it out with trainers throughout the game. Still, he scored Carolina’s only TD on the game’s opening drive. — Bradley

About that Saints defense …

The Saints held the Panthers to seven points, their first opponent to fail to score in double-digits this season, though they did hold the Giants to 14. Carolina’s 175 yards of total offense was also a season-low for New Orleans’ defense, though they did limit Tampa Bay (212) and Arizona (276) to fewer than 300 yards. They also won the turnover battle 2-0 and are now nearly even on the season (14 turnovers committed, 12 caused) despite being 2-8. Not to make too much of one win, but head coach Kellen Moore might have something to work with here. — Harkins

ALONTAE WILL TAKE THAT

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/a8QEjddEDv

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 9, 2025

Bryce Young unable to carry the offense

In aiming to slow the Panthers’ run game, the Saints dared Young to beat them. The third-year quarterback had passed for less than 200 yards in seven of his eight starts this season. He completed 17 of 25 passes for 124 yards and an interception Sunday. Most of his pass attempts were in the short-to-intermediate range.

Trailing 10-7 to start the fourth quarter, Carolina started on its own 40 after sacking Slough on fourth down. On second-and-5, Young’s underthrown pass to Tetairoa McMillan on the sideline was intercepted by Alontae Taylor. Five plays later, the Saints scored a TD to go ahead 17-7 and the Panthers never threatened again. — Bradley

Nov 9, 2025

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