For the first time since Weeks 10 and 11 of the 2024 season, the New Orleans Saints won consecutive football games. A heart-pounding 20-17 win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in the Superdome improved the Saints to 4-10. It also gave them their first sweep over an NFC South opponent since doing so against Carolina in 2023. The Panthers dropped to 7-7 in the defeat, losing an opportunity to take firm control of the NFC South race.

After going three-and-out offensively on their opening drive of the game, the Saints defense was cut through easily on Carolina’s opening drive for an early 7-0 Panthers lead. The defense stiffened after that 74-yard march by Carolina, holding them to 52 yards for the rest of the half. New Orleans was completely dormant offensively through the first two quarters until a 95-yard drive that culminated in a Devin Neal touchdown run as the Panthers held a 10-7 lead going into the halftime break.

Carolina did put together another touchdown drive to open the third quarter to put them up by 10 points. The rest of the second half belonged to the Saints, as their defense came up with plays in big moments and the offense took control of the fourth quarter. New Orleans scored a touchdown to even the score at 17 on a late 78-yard drive. Then, with the seconds winding down, the Saints again moved into position for Charlie Smyth to boot a game-winning 47-yard field goal.

It was an ugly game at times, with a total of 20 penalties from each side. Carolina penalties were the most costly, keeping two New Orleans scoring drives alive and adding a roughing the passer penalty to set Smyth up for a shorter kick to win the game. Here’s a reverse look at the good, bad, and ugly from the most thrilling win of the New Orleans season.

The Ugly: Saints Offensive Line

Taking their weekly place in the bad or ugly category is the New Orleans blocking, a term used loosely. Tyler Shough was sacked 5 times and constantly sent on the move by a Carolina defense that was near the bottom of the league in pressures. Most of the penalties committed by the Saints were responsible by the line, putting the team behind in down and distance or taking positive gains off the board. Even with Taliese Fuaga back at right tackle, the Saints weren’t great on the outside with he and Kelvin Banks. Cesar Ruiz turned in his usual miserable performance at right guard with Dillon Radunz doing no better at the other guard spot. Frankly, the fact that the Saints can do anything with this kind of incompetence in the middle is a near amazing achievement.

The Bad: Injuries

Injuries are piling up. Already without Alvin Kamara, Devin Neal was lost in the second half with a hamstring issue. Devaughn Vele joined him there late in the third quarter and had his arm in a sling after the game. This is a team with little depth in the first place. At the same time, the fact that the Saints were able to pull out this win is a testament to the resilience of a team playing hard in spite of being eliminated from postseason contention and down to third-string players.

The Good: Kellen Moore

After a season of being rightfully criticized for his game plans, play-calling, in-game decisions and lack of adjustments, it’s nice to put Moore in this column. His call to run a quarterback draw with only seconds left and no timeouts was extremely risky, but turned out to be genius. The gamble paid off, as the Saints drew a roughing the quarterback penalty to move Charlie Smyth much closer for his game-winning field goal. Above all, it needs to be noted that the New Orleans players continue to play extremely hard for Moore down the stretch. That’s a major sign that they’ve bought in to the message from Moore and his staff.

The Good: Charlie Smyth

After a long stretch of uncertainty and erratic results from the kicker position, Smyth has undoubtedly solidified this spot. He cooly nailed the 47-yard game-winner, his third field goal of the day longer than 40 yards (one was taken back because of a Panthers penalty). In his first NFL season, Smyth seems to have the confidence of the coaching staff in big situations. That’s something you could not say about his kicking predecessor.

The Good: Devaughn Vele and Chris Olave

Devaughn Vele and Tyler Shough have established a strong connection. Vele had 5 catches on 6 targets for 69 yards before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter. Most of those were on contested throws. He has emerged as the team’s go-to target in heavy traffic or the intermediate levels, something this offense has lacked for almost four years.

Olave made his presence felt when the Saints most needed him. He led all players with 6 receptions and 85 yards, but 5 of those and 78 yards came in the last two drives for New Orleans. Whether Olave is a true #1 receiver remains debatable, but this clutch performance provided the big difference between a win and loss.

The Good: Tyler Shough

We may be seeing a rookie quarterback come of age before our eyes. With no help from the offensive line and mostly third-stringers at running back and receiver, Shough stepped up his play in the final minutes. He completed 9 of 11 passes, not counting a spike, for 127 yards on the Saints final two drives with less than five minutes to go. That 78-yard drive and the ensuing 44-yard march resulted in a tying touchdown and the game-winning field goal. This is what franchise quarterbacks do, folks. Shough must still develop to be in that category. However, his accuracy, poise, and ability to make plays in the clutch are attributes that several quarterbacks currently in the NFL lack. Tyler Shough has at least shown that he’s good enough for the Saints to build around for their foreseeable future.