Canal Street Chronicles
Three takeaways following New Orleans’ dominant Week 1 win over Carolina.
The New Orleans Saints opened the 2024 regular season with a commanding 47-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers, marking the team’s sixth straight season opener win (longest active streak in the NFL) and their most points in an opener since defeating the Detroit Lions 45-25 in 2009.
The Saints looked outstanding in all three phases of the game. The new look offense was effective and efficient, which was refreshing after the team struggled to find an identity last season. They put together nine consecutive scoring drives, pulling away from their division rivals early and never looking back. The defense also impressed, recording four sacks and forcing three turnovers, while the special teams unit delivered a stellar performance as well.
Let’s take a look at three overreactions following the Saints’ Week 1 win over the Panthers:
Saints HC Dennis Allen’s defense had Panthers’ sophomore QB Bryce Young seeing ghosts on Sunday afternoon. New Orleans got off to a hot start on both sides of the football, as Carolina’s first offensive play of the game resulted in a Bryce Young interception by S Will Harris. Proven ballhawk S Tyrann Mathieu also forced and recovered a fumble, while second-year S Jordan Howden snagged his first career interception as well.
The Saints’ secondary is one of the deepest in the league and pairing them with the team’s revamped pass rush could be a serious threat to opposing offenses. New Orleans also recorded four sacks on Sunday, providing constant pressure on the former number one overall NFL Draft pick, while severely limiting Carolina’s run game.
This defense is star-studded in almost every aspect. Hopefully, they can string together back-to-back strong performances to start the team on the right foot for the remainder of the 2024 season. Whether it’s sacks or turnovers, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Saints end up among the league’s best in at least one defensive category. Sunday’s game gives us every reason to believe they can successfully execute this.
To start his second season in New Orleans, veteran QB Derek Carr came out on fire, delivering an impressive performance against the Panthers on Sunday. Carr completed 19 of his 23 passes for 200 yards and three TDs, earning an 88.7 passing grade from Pro Football Focus (highest graded QB from Week1).
On the Saints’ opening drive, Carr threw a perfect 59-yard bomb off his back foot with pressure in his face to WR Rashid Shaheed for a TD on 3rd down. He looked noticeably more comfortable compared to last season, reading the entire field and letting the pocket develop, which was easier to manage due to the offensive line’s remarkable performance, allowing only five total pressures in Week 1 (lowest in league). Of Carr’s four incompletions, two were well-thrown and would have gone for 39-yard and...
