Saints Gut Out Gritty Win Over Panthers, Show Signs of Life in Season’s Final Stretch
The New Orleans Saints aren’t playing for playoff seeding or postseason dreams anymore. But don’t tell that to the guys in the locker room.
Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Carolina Panthers wasn’t just a victory-it was a statement. A team with nothing to gain on paper is still fighting like everything’s on the line.
And that says something.
This marks the Saints’ first back-to-back wins of the season, both coming against NFC South foes. They’re not just playing spoiler-they’re playing inspired football.
Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has this group trending in the right direction, finally tapping into a rhythm that had eluded them for most of the year. There’s still work to be done, but the foundation is starting to look a lot more stable than it did just a few weeks ago.
Let’s break down what’s clicking-and what still needs cleaning up-as the Saints head into the final stretch of the season.
Trending Up: Team Morale and Momentum
Let’s be real-this team could’ve packed it in weeks ago. Instead, they’re stringing together wins, showing resilience, and playing like a group that still believes in itself. That matters.
Yes, the Saints are out of the playoff picture. But this kind of late-season surge can do wonders for a young roster, especially one that may have found its quarterback of the future.
Winning builds confidence, and confidence builds culture. And if you’re trying to set the tone for next season, this is exactly how you do it.
The schedule down the stretch is about as favorable as it gets. New Orleans hosts the 3-11 Jets next, then heads to Tennessee to face the 2-12 Titans, before closing the season at home against the Falcons.
It’s not out of the question that they could finish the year on a five-game win streak. That won’t change the standings, but it could change the trajectory of the franchise.
Trending Up: Charlie Smyth Delivers in the Clutch
Charlie Smyth might not be a household name yet, but he’s quickly becoming one of the more intriguing stories on this roster.
Since taking over kicking duties after the release of Blake Grupe, Smyth has been steady-and Sunday was his most clutch moment yet. He went 2-for-2 on field goals and nailed both extra points, including a game-winning 47-yarder with six seconds left on the clock. That capped a 62-yard, 55-second drive by the offense, and Smyth didn’t just knock it through-he stared down the Panthers’ sideline as it sailed between the uprights.
That kind of swagger doesn’t show up in the box score, but it says a lot about his confidence. Smyth is now 4-of-5 on field goals this season, with his only miss coming from 48 yards out in the rain. Not bad for a second-year kicker still earning his stripes.
Trending Down: Pass Rush Needs a Jolt
For all the strides the Saints have made defensively under Brandon Staley’s scheme, the pass rush has gone missing at the worst possible time.
One sack in two games. That’s it.
Opposing quarterbacks have had too much time to operate, and when the pressure does come, they’re escaping and making plays with their legs. Bryce Young ran for 49 yards on seven carries Sunday.
The week before, Baker Mayfield picked up 42 on six. Those aren’t just broken plays-they’re drive-extenders, momentum killers, and point-producers.
The Saints’ defense has shown flashes of dominance this season, but they’re missing that one ingredient that separates good from great: consistent pressure on third down. If they can find a way to finish plays and bring the quarterback down, this defense could become a real problem for opponents.
Trending Down: Penalties Still a Problem
Even in a win, the Saints made things harder on themselves than they needed to. Nine penalties for 78 yards is too much, especially when several of them were presnap infractions that stalled drives before they ever got going.
Discipline was an issue early in the season, and it’s creeping back in at the worst time. While some of the calls were questionable, the overall trend is clear: New Orleans needs to tighten things up if they want to keep this win streak alive.
Final Word
This Saints team isn’t going quietly. They’re playing with pride, energy, and just enough edge to make things interesting down the stretch. The offense is finding its footing, the defense has a strong foundation, and young pieces like Charlie Smyth are stepping up in big moments.
There’s still plenty to clean up-especially in the trenches and on the penalty front-but for a team that’s technically out of the hunt, the Saints are showing the kind of fight that could carry over into 2026.
They may not be playing for the postseason, but they’re playing for something just as important: belief. And right now, they’re earning it.