CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP/WGNO)— Laviska Shenault caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield, Marquis Haynes returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown and the Carolina Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints 22-14 on Sunday to snap a nine-game losing streak.
Mayfield threw for 170 yards and Christian McCaffrey ran for 108 as the Panthers (1-2) won at home for the first time since beating the Saints 26-7 on Sept. 19, 2021.
Jameis Winston, playing with an injured back, completed 25 of 41 passes for 353 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, while rookie Chris Olave had nine catches for 147 yards for a Saints wide receiver corps that lost Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and Tre’Quan Smith to injuries in the second half.
Carolina’s defense held Winston and the Saints scoreless for three quarters before Mark Ingram cut the lead to 13-7 with a 5-yard TD run.
But then Shenault, acquired in a trade with Jacksonville late in the preseason and activated for the first time Sunday, caught a pass in the flat, juked a defender and raced along the left sideline for a touchdown to give the Panthers some cushion.
Carolina’s defense took it from there, intercepting Winston twice in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Cornerback Jaycee Horn got a hand on Winston’s pass on a blitz and defensive tackle Derrick Brown reached out to grab the ball with one hand for the interception, setting up Eddy Pineiro’s third field goal to give Carolina a 22-7 lead. Winston answered with a 4-yard TD pass to Marquez Callaway, but Horn intercepted Winston on a Hail Mary at midfield as time expired to seal the victory.
Winston fell to 4-7 against the Panthers during his career, with 18 interceptions and 10 touchdown passes.
The Panthers entered Week 3 as the only NFL team without a takeaway.
But they got a big one early as Frankie Luvu reached his arm in and ripped the ball away from Alvin Kamara at the line of scrimmage. Haynes picked up the loose ball and rambled 44 yards for a touchdown with an entourage by his side.
Saints kicker Wil Lutz missed one field goal and had another blocked.
FINAL SCORE: Saints vs Panthers
TEAM | TIME/QUARTER | SCORE |
New Orleans Saints | FINAL | 14 |
Carolina Panthers | 22 |
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GAME COMMENTARY: Saints vs Panthers
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
Quez snags and scores#Saints | https://t.co/Js0H5rlUi5 pic.twitter.com/sHh0mXNHEl
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
..#Saints down 8 — after TD reception by Callaway .. with no time outs .. have to onside kick #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
.@Panthers defense coming up big today. 😤
📺: #NOvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/gwLoH5SIcp pic.twitter.com/6ZySwZtV3a— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
Chris Olave: 8 receptions for 109 yards so far today pic.twitter.com/uuxqvYfYME
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
PJ Williams and Tyrann Mathieu on the missed tackles .. 19-7 Panthers #Saints #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
On the board!#Saints | https://t.co/Js0H5rms7D pic.twitter.com/0YibKLovl7
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
deuce deuce @markingramII for the TD 🙌#Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/bqxti6A852
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
as bad as the #Saints have played they are back in it … #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
TOUCHDOWN SAINTS!
Ingram up the middle for the 5-yard score#Saints | @OchsnerHealth pic.twitter.com/YzLWGNhalu
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
To the 4th pic.twitter.com/4keZqpSinz
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
Bradley Roby is playing a great game .. #Saints #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
No creativity in the Pete C offense.
— LBJ📺📻 (@lbjnola) September 25, 2022
Andrus Peat (Concussion) is out for the remainder of the game
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
.@Cantguardmike when he makes catches like this. #Saints
📺: #NOvsCAR on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/gwLoH5SIcp pic.twitter.com/kHIyanHEx0— NFL (@NFL) September 25, 2022
.. Could be an ankle for Jarvis Landry #Saints
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
… looking again .. at the blocked field goal .. I think Lutz kicked it too low .. Panthers did not get any exceptional pressure #Saints #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
Halftime#Saints | @net_acr pic.twitter.com/fPZGMrz1Is
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
Blocked FG. The drought continues. Looks like the Saints will head into the locker room down 13. @WGNOsports
— Richie Mills (@richiemills) September 25, 2022
everything the #Saints can do wrong .. they are doing it .. #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
Sling that thing Jaboo!!!
49 yards to @chrisolave_ 🙌#Saints | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/c2mtYf9kvK
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
gotta get seven #Saints #WGNOtv
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
CHRIS OLAVE!⚜️ #NOvsCAR
— Kylee Bond (@bond_kylee) September 25, 2022
.. Saints being outclassed by the Carolina Panthers .. let that sink in .. #WGNOtv #Saints
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
Panthers up 10-0 .. so why does their quarterback look so rattled ?#WGNOtv #Saints
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
SACKED! 💪#Saints take down Mayfield for a 9-yard loss#NOvsCAR | 📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/exj6vyxxef
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 25, 2022
.. Carolina boots FG lead 10-0 .. Saints need a drive badly #WGNOtv #Saints
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022
That point in the game where you utter the phrase ‘Gilliken should be able to back them up…’
— LBJ📺📻 (@lbjnola) September 25, 2022
.. #Saints penalties .. are killing them #WGNOtv #Saints
— Ed Daniels (@WGNOsports) September 25, 2022