Saints 20-17 Panthers recap (Dec 14, 2025): An electrifying finish decides the game in New Orleans, as Charlie Smyth drilled a 47-yard winner as time expired, giving the Saints a 20-17 comeback victory over the postseason hopeful Carolina Panthers. That dramatic kick denied the Panthers, now 7-7, sole control of first place in the NFC South and capped another strong showing from New Orleans rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Shough, who has been thriving since taking over in Week 9 for the injured Spencer Rattler, completed 24 of 32 passes for 272 yards. He connected with Chris Olave for a 12-yard touchdown with 2:29 left in regulation to tie the game, and he added a team-high 32 rushing yards without turning the ball over. His late-game momentum also included a key 9-second stretch where his slide at the Carolina 44 set up Smyth’s game-winner after Lathan Ransom drew a roughness penalty that moved the ball 29 yards closer.
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young threw for 163 yards and a 32-yard touchdown to Jalen Coker, giving the Panthers an early 7-0 lead thanks to Rico Dowdle’s hard-running 4-yard score. A remarkable 17-play, 95-yard drive—ending with Devin Neal’s 4-yard TD run—helped the Panthers push ahead at halftime 10-7, featuring conversions on a third-and-13 and a fourth-and-1.
New Orleans rallied in the second half, with Fitzgerald’s 40-yard field goal nudging Carolina’s lead back to 10-7 at intermission. The Saints momentarily looked to draw closer late in the third quarter when Smyth’s 46-yard attempt was erased by an offside penalty against Carolina, nullifying the points and prompting a fourth-and-1 stop on the ensuing Saints drive. That stop, however, proved costly only temporarily, as Shough and the Saints engineered a 78-yard, 2:08 drive to deadlock the game at 17-17.
Key moments included a fourth-quarter stand by Carolina’s defense, with Bryan Bresee stuffing Chuba Hubbard on fourth-and-1 at 10:56 remaining. The Saints would then seize the moment, forcing a quick Panthers punt and driving down the field for the tying score and ultimately the winning kick.
Injuries affected both teams. Panthers defensive end Turk Wharton was sidelined with a hamstring issue. For the Saints, Devin Neal appeared to suffer a hamstring problem in the second quarter and did not return. Safety Justin Reid missed his second straight game with a knee injury, and Saints right guard Cesar Ruiz left the third quarter for ankle treatment. Devaughn Vele also exited briefly with a shoulder evaluation.
Looking ahead: Panthers host Tampa Bay in Week 16, while the Saints welcome the New York Jets on Sunday.
— AP NFL coverage
