The New Orleans Saints’ Week 10 victory over the Carolina Panthers was anchored by a dominant defensive performance, but it was a crucial play on special teams that earned veteran defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd the coveted title of NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Shepherd, in his third season with the Saints, was recognized by the National Football League for his game-changing blocked field goal attempt in the third quarter of the 17-7 win.

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The Game-Changing Block

With the Saints clinging to a narrow 10-7 lead in the third quarter, the Carolina Panthers lined up for a 48-yard field goal that would have tied the game. Exploding through the line, Shepherd shot the gap between the long snapper and the left guard, getting his massive hand on the kick from Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.

While a subsequent, bizarre sequence of events, where the ball was touched by another Saint player beyond the line of scrimmage, allowing the Panthers to recover, initially maintained possession for Carolina, the ultimate impact of the block was undeniable. This turn of events prevented the Panthers from putting points on the board at a critical juncture. This effectively protecting the Saints’ slim lead and swinging the momentum back in New Orleans’ favor. The Panthers would ultimately turn the ball over on a fumble just a few plays later.

A Force on Both Sides

While the blocked kick was the highlight that secured the special teams honor, Shepherd’s overall performance against the Panthers underscored his importance to the Saints’ defensive front. His notable defensive contributions included:

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1.0 Sack: A 13-yard sack of Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, derailing a Carolina drive.

Two Solo Tackles: Contributing to a defensive effort that held the Panthers to only 73 rushing yards for the entire game.

This recognition marks the first NFC Player of the Week honor of Shepherd’s eight-year NFL career. Originally a third-round pick by the New York Jets in 2018, Shepherd has established himself as a reliable and productive interior lineman since joining New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent in 2023.

His dual-threat ability to disrupt plays both on defense and special teams provides a significant boost for the Saints as they entered their bye week, looking to solidify their position in the NFC South. Shepherd and the Saints are on a bye in Week 11. They’ll host the division-rival Atlanta Falcons in Week 12.