The clash between NFC South rivals always delivers compelling storylines, and the New Orleans Saints’ 26-13 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 was no exception. While the final score tells a simple story, the real narrative is hidden within the player statistics. This article provides not only the complete Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints match player stats but also a deep dive into the performances that decided the game, offering expert analysis you won’t find in a standard box score.
Executive Summary: The Game in a Nutshell
The New Orleans Saints leveraged a classic formula of a dominant ground game and opportunistic defense to secure a decisive 26-13 road victory. The story of the game was written in the trenches, with the Saints’ offensive line controlling the pace and their defensive front consistently disrupting the Panthers’ young quarterback. Below, we break down every key performance with definitive analysis.
Key Performers & Standout Stats
Before we dive into the full box score, these were the players who truly defined the outcome of the game.
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⭐ Alvin Kamara (NO, RB): 28 carries, 112 rushing yards, 2 TDs | 4 receptions, 22 receiving yards. Kamara was the engine of the Saints’ offense, grinding out tough yards and controlling the time of possession.
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❗ Bryce Young (CAR, QB): 22/38, 245 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. A tale of two halves for Young, who showed flashes but was ultimately undone by pressure and critical mistakes.
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⭐ Demario Davis (NO, LB): 9 total tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, 1 QB hit. Davis was a wrecking ball, flying around the field and consistently derailing Carolina’s offensive drives.
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❗ Chris Olave (NO, WR): 7 receptions, 110 receiving yards. Olave’s ability to stretch the field and make contested catches was the perfect complement to Kamara’s ground assault.
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⭐ Derrick Brown (CAR, DT): 11 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss. A monstrous performance from the Panthers’ interior lineman, who was a rare bright spot, constantly disrupting running lanes.
Complete Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints Player Stats
Passing Stats
Player (Team) |
COMP/ATT |
PASS YDS |
AVG |
TD |
INT |
QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bryce Young (CAR) |
22/38 |
245 |
6.4 |
1 |
2 |
64.3 |
Derek Carr (NO) |
24/35 |
278 |
7.9 |
1 |
0 |
103.5 |
Rushing Stats
Player (Team) |
ATT |
RUSH YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chuba Hubbard (CAR) |
12 |
43 |
3.6 |
0 |
9 |
Alvin Kamara (NO) |
28 |
112 |
4.0 |
2 |
15 |
Derek Carr (NO) |
3 |
12 |
4.0 |
0 |
7 |
Receiving Stats
Player (Team) |
TGT |
REC |
REC YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Thielen (CAR) |
11 |
7 |
57 |
8.1 |
0 |
14 |
Jonathan Mingo (CAR) |
8 |
4 |
62 |
15.5 |
1 |
26 |
Chris Olave (NO) |
10 |
7 |
110 |
15.7 |
0 |
32 |
Rashid Shaheed (NO) |
6 |
5 |
63 |
12.6 |
0 |
21 |
Taysom Hill (NO) |
4 |
3 |
41 |
13.7 |
1 |
19 |
Defensive & Special Teams Stats
Player (Team) |
TACKLES |
TFL |
SACKS |
INT |
PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Frankie Luvu (CAR) |
12 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Derrick Brown (CAR) |
11 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Demario Davis (NO) |
9 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
Tyrann Mathieu (NO) |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
Paulson Adebo (NO) |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
The Deep Dive: Unit-by-Unit Performance Analysis
Quarterback Breakdown: Experience vs. Growing Pains
The passing stats reveal a clear dichotomy between veteran composure and rookie struggle.
Derek Carr’s efficiency was the key. His 103.5 passer rating wasn’t built on explosive plays alone but on a steady diet of high-percentage throws. He expertly managed play-action off of Kamara’s success, completing 78% of his play-action passes for 145 yards. His lone touchdown pass to Taysom Hill was a result of reading the Panthers’ coverage and finding the mismatch.
Bryce Young’s stat line (1 TD, 2 INTs) tells a frustrating story. The deeper metrics are more revealing. Under pressure on 45% of his dropbacks (per Next Gen Stats), Young’s completion percentage plummeted to 42%. His two interceptions were a product of forcing the ball into coverage while facing a fierce pass rush. The first, by Paulson Adebo, was an underthrown deep ball where Adebo expertly high-pointed the football. The second, by Tyrann Mathieu, was a classic “Honey Badger” play, reading Young’s eyes and jumping a short route in the red zone, effectively ending Carolina’s comeback hopes.
Running Game: A Study in Contrasts
This was the most lopsided unit performance of the game.
Alvin Kamara’s 112 yards look good on paper, but his efficiency after contact was elite. He averaged 3.2 yards after first contact, demonstrating his trademark balance and power. The Saints’ offensive line consistently created push, but Kamara’s individual effort turned 2-yard gains into 5-yard gains, keeping the offense on schedule and dominating time of possession.
For Carolina, the run game was non-existent. Chuba Hubbard’s 43 yards on 12 carries (3.6 YPC) underscore a failure at the line of scrimmage. The Panthers’ offensive line generated no movement, forcing the offense into predictable passing situations on second and third downs, which played directly into the hands of the Saints’ pass rushers.
Defensive Impact: Who Truly Won the Matchups?
The defensive stats only tell part of the story.
Saints LB Demario Davis was the best player on the field. His two sacks came on perfectly timed blitzes where he shot the A-gap untouched, demonstrating elite football IQ and timing. He was also instrumental in limiting Carolina’s screen game, a staple of their offense.
For the Panthers, DT Derrick Brown was a one-man wrecking crew. His 11 tackles from the interior defensive line position is a staggering number, highlighting his incredible motor and ability to shed blocks. He was consistently in the backfield, but often found himself as the only Panther making plays, as the second level of the defense struggled to contain Kamara.
Saints CB Paulson Adebo had a shutdown performance beyond his interception. Targeted 8 times, he allowed only 3 receptions for 28 yards and broke up 3 passes. His physicality at the line of scrimmage disrupted the timing of Carolina’s receivers all afternoon.
Fantasy Football Impact: What the Stats Mean For Your Team
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Buy-Low: Bryce Young. The stats were ugly, but the volume is there (38 attempts). If Carolina ever fixes its line, the passing volume could lead to productive fantasy days.
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Sell-High: Alvin Kamara. He’s a clear RB1, but this volume (28 carries) is likely unsustainable. His value is at its peak; consider trading him for a top-tier WR if you have depth at RB.
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Hold: Chris Olave. His 110 yards on 10 targets confirms his status as a high-end WR2 with weekly WR1 upside. He’s a consistent part of the offense regardless of game script.
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Drop: Panthers D/ST. Until they show an ability to generate turnovers or sacks consistently, they are not a viable fantasy option.
Conclusion: The Final Word
The Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints match player stats confirm the clear story of Week 9: this was won by Saints’ dominance in the core tenets of football. Their offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing Alvin Kamara to thrive and protecting Derek Carr. Their defensive front generated pressure without excessive blitzing, forcing a young quarterback into costly errors.
For the Panthers, the stats highlight a recurring theme: an offensive line that cannot establish the run or protect the passer, putting an immense burden on a talented but struggling young quarterback. The individual bright spots, like Derrick Brown’s Pro Bowl-level performance, are buried by systemic issues. The stats provide the evidence, and the analysis reveals the blueprint for why the game unfolded as it did.
