Bryce Young struggles as Saints pull away from Panthers to win defensive battle on MNF-ZoomTech News

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Monday evening’s NFC South battle between the Panthers and the Saints featured No. 1 total draft decide Bryce Young at quarterback for Carolina and offseason addition Derek Carr beneath middle for New Orleans, however every workforce’s stout protection managed the sport.

The Saints lastly scored the competition’s first landing late within the third quarter then pulled away late to win 20-17. The Saints head into Week 3 at 2-0, whereas the Panthers fall to 0-2.

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New Orleans Saints

Give the Saints’ protection the MVP award for the second week in a row. The unit bailed out one other shaky outing for the offense with a smothering efficiency towards Younger and the Panthers. The protection stored the rookie quarterback on his heels many of the evening, holding him to 22 completions for 153 yards, due to a four-man rush that tallied 4 sacks. The Saints’ offense struggled once more, failing to attain within the first half for the second straight week, but it surely was capable of maintain tempo after a 42-yard move to Chris Olave arrange a landing within the third quarter.

Troubling development: The offensive line play. There’s actually expertise on an O-line stockpiled with first-round picks, however the unit hasn’t been capable of put issues collectively this season. The Saints allowed Carr to be sacked 4 occasions, bringing the season complete to eight by means of two video games. Though New Orleans discovered extra success within the run recreation than final week, working again Jamaal Williams left the sport early with a hamstring concern.

QB breakdown: Carr did not have a simple time of it early, throwing a nasty interception and looking out like his timing along with his receivers was off. The Saints needed to accept area targets as a substitute of getting ultimately zone. However like final week, Carr was capable of make the performs when it counted. The downfield throw to Olave was the primary play of 20 yards by both workforce, and it appeared to make one thing click on, as Carr adopted that up with one other key throw to Rashid Shaheed and a toss to Olave that arrange the ultimate landing.

Eye-popping stat: The Saints allowed 20 factors or fewer for a franchise report tenth recreation in a row, courting again to final season, and it would not seem like a fluke. The protection yielded fewer than 300 internet yards for the second straight week, and it tallied 4 extra sacks, bringing the season complete to seven. The one blemish to this point was a late landing by the Panthers with 1:16 left within the recreation; it was the primary TD allowed by the Saints this season.

Subsequent recreation: at Inexperienced Bay Packers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

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Carolina Panthers

Younger and the Panthers’ offense weren’t prepared for prime time on Monday evening at Financial institution of America Stadium. The highest decide of the draft turned in a dismal efficiency, although it wasn’t all Younger’s fault. His offensive line broke down continually, placing the previous Alabama star beneath fixed stress towards only a four-man rush. However when beneath stress, Younger did not reply in any respect, till a fourth-quarter scramble for 26 yards. After going 2-for-10 passing and being sacked as soon as towards stress within the opener, he was 3-for-8 for 13 yards with 4 sacks and a fumble on this one.

Younger did a pleasant job of eliminating the ball and making just a few performs along with his legs, however he nonetheless would not have a completion longer than 15 yards. All these are causes Carolina has scored solely two touchdowns in its first two tilts, and Younger’s inexperience continues to be entrance and middle.

Troubling development: Younger and the Panthers on third down. The Panthers had been 4-of-14 on third downs, and Younger was a giant cause for the inefficiency, going 4-for-9 for 32 yards with two sacks and two scrambles.

Greatest gap within the recreation plan: What to do on third-and-short. The Panthers cannot use the quarterback sneak as a result of Younger (5-foot-10, 204 kilos) simply is not large enough to make that work. Plus, he would not have expertise at it. So Carolina had to usher in backup quarterback Andy Dalton on these performs. The primary time there was a false begin. The second time Dalton pitched to working again Miles Sanders for a primary down. However this may very well be a problem transferring ahead.

Pivotal play: On the primary collection of the second half, Younger fumbled on a sack that might have put the Saints within the crimson zone with a 6-3 lead. It might have been disastrous, however the play was nullified, due to a defensive holding penalty. That allowed Carolina to remain inside putting distance ’til the tip.

Subsequent recreation: at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)