Saints’ stunning win over Panthers by the numbers

Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

By Ross Jackson

It was a suspenseful win in the Big Easy as the New Orleans Saints (4-10) knocked off the Carolina Panthers (7-7) and further clouded the NFC South playoff race. With the thrilling 20-17 victory, the Saints are putting on full display their progress and momentum behind rookie quarterback Tyler Shough and several young playmakers in each phase of the game.

Head coach Kellen Moore got his fourth career win leading the team’s rebuild and new era, and this was easily the most exhilarating one yet.

Here are the numbers that tell the story of the Saints’ walk-off win over the Panthers.

1 – New Orleans has had just one game-winning field goal in the last three seasons. The last before Charlie Smyth’s 47-yarder to beat the Panthers took place Week 1 of the 2022 season, a 51-yard field goal by former kicker Wil Lutz at the Atlanta Falcons.

2 – In just six starts, Shough has tied former Saints quarterback Derek Carr with two game-winning drives and two wins over teams with winning records.

Tyler Shough has already authored as many victories against teams with winning records as Derek Carr did in two seasons with the Saints.

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) December 15, 2025

3 – Shough is now tied for the most rookie season quarterback wins in Saints franchise history.

46.9 – The Saints’ defense only blitzed on 12.5% of its snaps, fifth-least in the league in Week 15, but generated the league’s sixth-highest pressure percentage, pressuring Panthers defense quarterback Bryce Young on 46.9% of his dropbacks (Monday Night Football pending).

63 – After starting the game with one reception for seven yards through the first three quarters, Olave caught five of his six targets for 78 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in the fourth. He finished the game as the team’s leading receiver with 85 yards.

162 – 162 of Shough’s 272 passing yards and his passing touchdown all came in the fourth quarter.

250 – The Saints’ win over Carolina was just the second game this year in which New Orleans has compiled more than 250 passing yards. Both games were against the Panthers.

1,484 – Shough now holds the Saints’ franchise record for most passing yards in a rookie season. He surpassed Spencer Rattler’s mark of 1,317 during Sunday’s win and now sits with 1,484 yards passing with time to extend the record.

2020 – Shough became the first Saints’ quarterback to lead consecutive game-winning drives since Drew Brees in 2020. Brees did so in three-straight games (with a bye week after the first) that year.

With two consecutive weeks with game-winning drives in the fourth quarter, Tyler Shough is the first @Saints QB to orchestrate back-to-back game-winning drives in the fourth quarter/overtime since Drew Brees in Weeks Five (bye in Week Six), Seven, and Eight of the 2020 season. https://t.co/cvJ14AexwR

— New Orleans Saints PR (@SaintsPR) December 15, 2025