The Saints and Panthers engaged in a rock fight on “Monday Night Football,” but New Orleans will take a road win any way it can get it.
It took over 35 minutes of game time to see a team get into the end zone in the matchup. Both defenses looked stout, coming up with key stops any time their opponent got into the red zone.
New Orleans’ offense finally came to life after star WR Chris Olave reeled in a ridiculous one-handed catch for a 42-yard gain in the third quarter. QB Derek Carr engineered a couple of cohesive drives in the second half, and RB Tony Jones Jr. punched in a pair of touchdowns after being elevated from the practice squad earlier in the day.
Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young led an impressive two-minute drill late in the fourth quarter to give Carolina some hope, but it was too little too late as the Saints came away with the win.
If you missed any of the action, The Sporting News had you covered with live updates, highlights and more from all the action on “Monday Night Football.”
Saints vs. Panthers score
1
2
3
4
F
Saints
3
3
7
7
20
Panthers
3
0
3
11
17
Saints vs. Panthers results, highlights from ‘Monday Night Football’
(All times Eastern)
Final: Saints 20, Panthers 17
10:21 p.m.: Taysom Hill rushes for 11 yards and a first down to end the game. The Panthers’ comeback hopes disappeared as quickly as they appeared. The Saints will advance to 2-0 with a 20-17 win in Carolina.
10:20 p.m.: The Panthers’ onside kick attempt was unsuccessful. The Saints take over at Carolina’s 34 yard line.
Saints 20, Panthers 17
10:19 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — Bryce Young to Adam Thielen for a three-yard TD, followed by another completion between the pairing on the two-point conversion! The rookie QB leads a timely 11-play, 75-yard drive to bring the Panthers within three points with 1:58 to play.
10:13 p.m.: Bryce Young is trying to march the Panthers’ offense into the end zone to keep his squad alive. Carolina is at its own 46 yard line as we hit the two-minute warning.
Saints 20, Panthers 9
10:04 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — Tony Jones Jr. punches in his second touchdown of the night (and his second touchdown of his career). Jones Jr. was elevated from the practice squad for this contest and he’s made the most of his opportunity. The Saints cap off a 79-yard drive with a TD to give themselves a 20-9 lead with 3:14 remaining.
10:02 p.m.: It looked like Chris Olave had tip-toed his way down the sidelines for a touchdown, but he’ll have to settle for a nine-yard gain after replay revealed he stepped out of bounds at the Carolina 7.
10:00 p.m.: Derek Carr to Rashid Shaheed for a big gain! Carr connects with his WR on a deep ball for 45 yards, bringing the Saints to the Carolina 35.
Saints 13, Panthers 9
9:56 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Eddy Pineiro drills the 36-yard attempt after the Panthers’ offense stalled out inside the 15 yard line. Carolina trails 13-9 with 5:30 remaining in the game.
9:55 p.m.: The Saints give the Panthers a taste of their own medicine as Saints LB Demario Davis comes up with a clutch sack on 3rd & 3 in the red zone. Carolina will be forced to settle for a field goal.
9:50 p.m.: Get going, Bryce Young! The rookie QB scrambles for 26 yards on 3rd & 11, juking the Saints’ secondary to keep the drive alive. The Panters are into New Orleans territory after the big gain.
9:43 p.m.: The Panthers’ defense continues to get after the quarterback on 3rd down! This time it’s LB Kamu Grugier-Hill who gets to Derek Carr on 3rd & 2, knocking the Saints out of field goal range to force a punt and keep a one-possession deficit. Carolina will take over at its own 25 after a touchback on the boot.
End of third quarter: Saints 13, Panthers 6
Saints 13, Panthers 6
9:35 p.m.: The Panthers offense is stuck in park. Another three-and-out gives the ball back to the Saints at their own 18 yard line after a 54-yard punt from Johnny Hekker.
9:27 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — Tony Jones Jr. puts his head down and barrels two yards into the end zone for the first TD of the game. Chris Olave’s one-handed catch gave the Saints the boost they needed to catalyze a 10-play, 75-yard drive. New Orleans leads 13-6 with 2:56 to play in the third quarter.
9:23 p.m.: Chris Olave with the catch of the game! Derek Carr links up with his star receiver on a 42-yard bomb to spark some life into this Saints offense. New Orleans is knocking on the door of the red zone.
Saints 6, Panthers 6
9:18 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Eddy Pineiro from 54 yards… good, again! The Panthers kicker buries his second 50-yarder of the night to tie the game with 9:09 to play in the third quarter. Carolina makes the most of a drive that was derailed by a false start on 4th & 1.
9:08 p.m.: Stop me if you’ve heard this before — it’s another three-and-out. The Panthers’ defense brought the pressure with the Saints up against their own goal line, and New Orleans couldn’t get anything going. The Saints have punted the ball back to Carolina, who will take over at New Orleans’ 41 yard line after a 12-yard return.
8:59 p.m.: Bryce Young survives a fumble scare. The Saints defensive line forced another strip sack but the play was overturned due to a defensive holding flag in New Orleans’ secondary. The Panthers weren’t able to take advantage of the second life, getting stopped on 3rd & 3. A strong punt from Johnny Hekker pins the Saints on their own three yard line.
8:58 p.m.: The Panthers receive to start the second half.
Halftime: Saints 6, Panthers 3
8:42 p.m.: Miles Sanders takes a carry up the middle for three yards and that’ll bring us to halftime.
8:39 p.m.: Derek Carr is sacked for the second time in three plays! LB Frankie Luvu drops the QB on 3rd down for the second time tonight, forcing the Saints to punt. The Panthers take a timeout with the ball on their own 16 yard line and 28 seconds on the clock.
8:35 p.m.: FUMBLE — Bryce Young tried to scramble and make a play in the red zone and Saints DE Carl Granderson came up with a strip sack! The ball bounced around for a bit before it was finally recovered by New Orleans. The Saints take over at their own 21 with 1:21 on the game clock.
8:29 p.m.: INTERCEPTION — Derek Carr tries to force the ball to Chris Olave in heavy coverage and Vonn Bell comes down with a pick! After a 10-yard return, the Panthers will take over at New Orleans’ 37 with 3:16 left in the half.
8:26 p.m.: Neither offense can move the football. The Panthers mimic the Saints’ last drive — picking up a first down on the first play before going three-and-out. Carolina punts to New Orleans’ 21 yard line, fair catch by Rashid Shaheed with 4:10 remaining in the half.
8:22 p.m.: The Saints can’t get much going either. After one first down on the first play of the drive, New Orleans goes three-and-out and punts the ball back to the Panthers. A solid boot from Saints P Lou Hedley pins Carolina at its own 10 yard line.
8:20 p.m.: Saints RB Jamaal Williams is hurt and heading to the locker room. He is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.
8:16 p.m.: And that’s a quick three-and-out for the Panthers’ offense. Miles Sanders couldn’t get anything going on two carries and Bryce Young tossed an incomplete pass under pressure on 3rd & 13. Carolina punted to the Saints’ 31 yard line with 8:21 to play in the half.
Saints 6, Panthers 3
8:08 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Blake Grupe knocks in another chip shot, this time from 23 yards to give the Saints the lead. Make that two stops for the Panthers’ goal-line defense, keeping New Orleans out of the end zone again inside the 10 yard line.
8:05 p.m.: What a catch by Michael Thomas! Derek Carr found his WR on a 19-yard gain on 3rd & 9 to bring the Saints down to the Carolina 4. Let’s see if the Panthers’ goal-line defense has another stop in them.
7:57 p.m.: Bryce Young nearly threw an interception on 3rd & 6 but Saints CB Alontae Taylor juggled the ball before falling out of bounds. Carolina punted away to New Orleans special teams weapon Rashid Shaheed, who picked up 16 yards on the return. The Saints will take over from their own 44.
End of first quarter: Panthers 3, Saints 3
7:53 p.m.: After the kickoff, the Panthers were backed up 10 yards on a holding call on first down. Bryce Young then found Adam Thielen on a seven-yard completion to set up a 2nd & 13 from their own 22 yard line when the second quarter starts.
Panthers 3, Saints 3
7:49 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Blake Grupe buries the 28-yard chip shot to tie the game with under a minute to play in the first quarter. The Panthers’ defense held strong in the red zone, coming up with a big stop on 3rd & 6 to force the Saints to settle for three.
7:45 p.m.: Panthers star LB Shaq Thompson has been carted off the field after getting rolled up on at the end of a play.
7:40 p.m.: Derek Carr finds Chris Olave on a drag route on 3rd & 3 to extend the Saints’ drive with a first down. Their run game has the wheels turning on offense with Tayson Hill, Jamaal Williams and Tony Jones Jr. all contributing.
Panthers 3, Saints 0
7:30 p.m.: FIELD GOAL — Eddy Pineiro from 52 yards… it’s good! Bryce Young threaded the needle on a 10-yard throw to Adam Thielen on 3rd & 15 to put the Panthers in field goal range.
7:26 p.m.: The Panthers are moving down the field. Miles Sanders busted a 13-yard carry, then Adam Thielen picked up a first down on 3rd & 3 a few plays later to keep the drive alive. Carolina has the ball in Saints territory on the 44 yard line.
7:19 p.m.: The Panthers come up with a sack on 3rd & 6! LB Frankie Luvu brings the heat on Derek Carr to force the Saints to punt. A poor boot from New Orleans’ P Lou Hedley has Bryce Young and Carolina taking over with good field position on its own 35 yard line.
7:16 p.m.: The Saints will receive to start the game.
Pregame
5:57 p.m.: The Panthers and Saints have both reported their list of inactives for “Monday Night Football.”
Carolina’s list is headlined by starting LG Nash Jensen, while WR DJ Chark is a notable active player.
New Orleans’ list does not have any starters, but it is missing its reserve WR trio of Lynn Bowden, A.T. Perry and Kirk Merritt.
5:39 p.m.: Bryce Young is ready for his Panthers home debut.
What channel is Saints vs. Panthers on today?
Game: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Date: Monday, Sept. 18
TV channel: ESPN, ESPN2
Live stream: ESPN+, NFL+, Fubo (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)
The Saints and Panthers are the first of two “Monday Night Football” games on Monday, Sept. 18. New Orleans travels to Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., in the first of their pair of NFC South matchups.
The contest will not be available on ABC, as the Steelers and Browns will be on that channel.
Saints vs. Panthers start time
Date: Monday, Sept. 18
Start time: 7:15 p.m. ET
The Saints and Panthers matchup gets an earlier start than the customary 8:15 p.m. ET start time for a majority of “MNF” contests, as the game will begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.
The Browns and Steelers are in the 8:15 p.m. ET slot.
NFL live stream for Saints vs. Panthers
Live stream (U.S.): ESPN+, NFL+, Fubo
Live stream (Canada): DAZN
Viewers in the United States have a few different options to live stream the game. ESPN will broadcast the game over its proprietary streaming service, ESPN+ (subscription required). NFL+ will also carry the game, but a subscription is required, as well.
Cord-cutters in the U.S. can turn to Fubo for their streaming needs. Fubo carries the ESPN family of networks, ABC, NBC, CBS and NFL Network, so fans can catch a bevy of football action throughout the 2023 season. Fubo also offers a free trial.
Viewers in Canada can sign up for DAZN, which carries NFL Game Pass.
Monday Night Football schedule 2023
Week
Date
Matchup/Results
1
Sept. 11
Jets 22, Bills 16 (OT)
2
Sept. 18 (7:15 p.m., ESPN)
Saints at Panthers
2
Sept. 18 (8:15 p.m., ABC)
Browns at Steelers
3
Sept. 25 (7:15 p.m., ABC)
Rams at Bengals
3
Sept. 25 (8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Eagles at Buccaneers
4
Oct. 2
Seahawks at Giants
5
Oct. 9
Packers at Raiders
6
Oct. 16
Cowboys at Chargers
7
Oct. 23
49ers at Vikings
8
Oct. 30
Raiders at Lions
9
Nov. 6
Chargers at Jets
10
Nov. 13
Broncos at Bills
11
Nov. 20
Eagles at Chiefs
12
Nov. 27
Bears at Vikings
13
Dec. 4
Bengals at Jaguars
14
Dec. 11 (8:15 p.m., ABC)
Packers at Giants
14
Dec. 11 (8:15 p.m., ESPN)
Titans at Dolphins
15
Dec. 18
Chiefs at Patriots
16
Dec. 25
Ravens at 49ers
17
Dec. 30
Lions at Cowboys
18
Jan. 6 (4:30 p.m., ESPN/ABC)
TBD
18
Jan. 6 (8:15 p.m., ESPN/ABC)
TBD
