By the numbers: Tyler Shough gets first career win against Panthers

By Ross Jackson

The New Orleans Saints have improved to 2-8 on the year with a 17-7 victory over the now 5-5 Carolina Panthers. The team notched their win on the backs of stellar defensive play, allowing just 3.5 yards per play to Carolina and limiting its run game to 3.2 yards per carry, and impressive quarterback play from rookie passer Tyler Shough. 

1 – Shough’s win in Carolina was his first as a starting quarterback and the team’s first road win under head coach Kellen Moore. 

4 – After Sunday, Shough became one of four rookie quarterbacks to win a game for the Saints in the franchise’s history. The Saints also have the most field goal blocks (4) in the last two seasons across the league. Lastly, tight end Juwan Johnson became the fourth tight end in Saints’ history to accumulate 2,000-plus receiving yards. 

10.1 – New Orleans notched 10.4 yards per passing attempt Sunday. That’s the best average since Week 10 of the 2024 season (10.8). 

44 – Sunday’s win was the Saints’ first rookie quarterback win in 44 years. The last time the team won with a rookie starting at signal caller was in 1981 with that year’s supplemental draft’s first selection, Dave Wilson. 

55.4 – New Orleans gained 55.4% of its 388 total offensive yards on third downs (215). The Saints converted their second-highest percentage of third downs (47.1%) of the season against the Panthers. 

62 – Wide receiver Chris Olave’s 62-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of his career. His previous high of 57 was set weeks ago against the Chicago Bears. 

CHRIS OLAVE 62 YARDS

NOvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/e9BXTPaXQb

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025

73 – After allowing just 73 rushing yards to Carolina, the Saints are tied for the least amount of yards allowed on the ground for Week 10 (Monday Night Football pending). They managed to do so against Panthers’ running back Rico Dowdle, who is in the midst of a breakout season, while stacking the box only 8.7% of the time, per Next Gen Stats. 

100 – Moore went after the Panthers’ top cover guy, cornerback Jaycee Horn, relentlessly. The Saints’ win was the first game in which Horn surrendered over 100 receiving yards and multiple touchdowns in his career. 

266 – The Saints’ 266 net passing yards were the most in any game since Week 10 of the 2024 season (269). 

282 – Shough’s 282 passing yards is the most by a rookie quarterback in Saints history.