NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 ● BANK OF AMERICA STADIUM

SAINTS POSTGAME NOTES

  • With the win, New Orleans Saints move to 1-2 in the regular season. The Saints return to action on Sunday, Oct. 1 when they play AFC East opponent Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium not London, England. Kickoff is set for 8:30 a.m. CST and the game will be aired nationally on FOX WVUE-FOX 8 in the New Orleans area).


• With the win, New Orleans' regular season record moves to 21-24 against the Panthers. The win also improves Saints Head Coach Sean Payton's record against the Panthers to 10-11 and his record against Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera to 6-5.


• Payton tallied his 101st win as Saints head coach (regular season and postseason), putting him past former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden for career wins, which for 44th all-time in NFL record books.


• A four game stretch from (11/13/11 – 12/11/11) was the last time the Saints went at least three straight games without a giveaway.


• The Saints committed their first penalty of the game with 14:22 remaining in the fourth quarter, their only infraction of the contest.


• The Saints outgained the Panthers 362-288.


• Playing in his 177th career game QB Drew Brees, completed 22-of-29 passes for a total of 220 yards while also throwing three touchdowns to WR Brandon Coleman, WR Michael Thomas and WR Ted Ginn Jr and posting a 131.4 passer rating. It marks the first time in Brees' career that he has not thrown an interception in the first three games of a season.


• RB Mark Ingram II led the Saints in rushing with 14 for 56 yards. Ingram also hauled in two catches for 30 yards.

• RB Alvin Kamara recorded his first touchdown of his NFL career with a 25-yard touchdown run. 


• WR Michael Thomas scored the Saints first touchdown of the game, hauling in a five-yard touchdown pass. Thomas ended the first quarter with five catches for 50 yards. He finished the game with seven catches for 87 yards.

• WR Brandon Coleman recorded his second touchdown of the season and the Saints second touchdown of the game hauling in a 11-yard scoring pass from QB Drew Brees.

• Former Panther WR Ted Ginn Jr.,  who signed with New Orleans in the offseason, hauled in the longest reception of the game with a 40-yard touchdown from Brees. He also became the 58th player all-time to catch a touchdown pass from Brees.

• DE Cameron Jordan recorded the first sack of the game, dropping Panthers QB Cam Newton for a six-yard loss. Jordan also recorded seven total tackles.

• DE Hau'oli Kikaha recorded the Saints' second sack of the game, forcing a two-yard loss.


• Rookie DE Trey Hendrickson recorded his first career NFL sack for a nine-yard loss.


• DE Alex Okafor sacked QB Cam Newton for a 10-yard loss for his first takedown as a Saint.


• CB P.J. Williams intercepted QB Cam Newton, recording his first career interception.

• CB Marcus Williams also recorded his first career interception with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter. 

• Making his season debut, CB Ken Crawley led the Saints defense recording nine tackles and two passes defensed.


• S Kenny Vaccaro recorded the Saints' third interception today and his fourth career pick. He finished the game with five tackles.


• K Wil Lutz nailed a 50-yard field goal bringing the Saints lead to 27-13 with 11:57 left in the fourth quarter.


• P Thomas Morstead punted three times for 150 yards (50.0 avg.) with a long of 59 yards and two punts dropped inside the 20-yard line.