New Orleans Saints secure second win of the season

The New Orleans Saints want to take advantage of the instability in the NFC South and have placed themselves at 2-0 in the season by defeating the Carolina Panthers 20-17 at Bank of America Stadium in the first game of Monday Night Football doubleheader in Week 2 of the NFL.

The key to the victory was the ground attack of the Saints, with Taysom Hill gaining 75 yards on nine carries, in addition to the strength of Tony Jones Jr. in the red zone, with 34 yards on 12 attempts and two crucial touchdowns. The defense also had a relevant role, forcing a fumble from Bryce Young and keeping the Panthers at bay.

Derek Carr did not have the best of games for New Orleans: yes, he completed 21 of 36 passes for 228 yards, but when he tried to find Chris Olave (6 receptions for 86 yards), he was intercepted by Vonn Bell. Bryce Young, selected first in the last draft by Carolina, completed 22 of his 33 throws for 153 yards, with one touchdown and one lost fumble.

The Game

A 52-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro put Carolina ahead in the first quarter, but Blake Grupe tied it in the first quarter with a 28-yard attempt and took the lead with another successful kick, this time from 51 yards.

And although Pineiro tied it again (54 yards), the Saints moved the chains and scored the first touchdown of the night when Tony Jones Jr. ran for two yards towards the promised land, making it 13-6 in favor of New Orleans, with Grupe's extra point.

The Panthers couldn't get into the end zone and Pineiro added three more points in the fourth quarter (36 yards), until Jones Jr. scored another rushing touchdown with a two-yard run to give the Saints a further lead.

In the end, the Panthers managed to get into the red zone and scored a touchdown when Bryce Young found Adam Thielen in a three-yard pass, with whom he also completed the two-point conversion. But Carolina did not recover the short kickoff and New Orleans secured its second win of the season.