2023-09-19 03:38:33
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Jones Jr. ran for two touchdowns, rookie Blake Grupe kicked two field goals and the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Monday night. to start the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 2013.
Jones replaced the injured Jamaal Williams late in the first half and ran for 34 yards on 12 carries.
The Saints defense did the rest and only allowed 153 passing yards to Panthers rookie Bryce Young in his home debut. New Orleans held Carolina (0-2) to 239 yards and sacked Young, the top pick in the draft, four times.
The Saints nearly went two full games without allowing a touchdown before allowing a three-yard score that Young threw to Adam Thielen with 1:16 left in the game. Young’s two-point conversion to Thielen brought the Panthers within three, but the Saints recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
Derek Carr, who threw for 305 yards in Week 1 once morest Tennessee, struggled early. He suffered an interception on a bad throw in triple coverage and missed several attempts with wide receivers. The Saints went into halftime leading just 6-3.
But Carr improved in the second half.
He found Chris Olave, who caught the ball with one hand as he fell late in the third quarter for a 42-yard gain. With this play Jones ran two yards to score and with which the Saints went up 13-6. Olave caught the ball once more, leading to Jones’ second touchdown with three minutes remaining.
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