By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints season opener, a 47-10 rout of visiting Carolina, was nearly perfect on Sunday. It was a clean and mistake-free game for the starting offense that included one of quarterback Derek Carr’s best performances as a Saint. He finished the game 19-of-23 for 200 passing yards and a trio of passing touchdowns. The story in this one, despite an equally excellent performance by the defense, is the team’s new and improved offensive approach.
The Saints hired offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak this offseason in an attempt to breathe new life into their offensive attack. It clearly worked out.
New Orleans was staring down a potential 50-point game with the wealth of the fourth quarter left to play. Touchdown strikes from Carr to three different receivers, a 100+ yard day from scrimmage for running back Alvin Kamara and a surprisingly efficient day for the offensive line underscored the finer details.
Kubiak called a game that felt like it was sequenced well, built off of what the team was doing prior and contained a lot of challenges for the Panthers’ defense. Play action, motion, tricky play calls like a third-and-5 toss to Kamara for 17 rushing yards, it all worked, and Carr orchestrated it well.
However, not everything went as well as the team had hoped. Injuries were an issue. Four different starters left the game at various points. The Saints were also whistled for 10 penalties for 95 penalty yards.
Here are some of the big takeaways from a game that shows a lot of promise and sets the stage for a big “prove-it” game in Dallas next week.
The big plays:
Carr connected with wide receiver Rashid Shaheed for a 59-yard bomb for an opening drive touchdown. Something the Saints have struggled massively to do out of the gate in recent years. He also found tight ends Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson for scores as well.
The Injuries:
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring), rookie Kool-Aid McKinstry joined the lineup to provide relief.
Left guard Lucas Patrick (Toe), offensive lineman Landon Young took his place on the line.
Tight end Foster Moreau (Head), Johnson and Taysom Hill filled out the rest of the snaps at tight end.
Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. (Unspecified), the reserves went in shortly after his exit.
Game Balls:
Klint Kubiak: The offensive coordinator’s debut was a thing of beauty. The Saints threw it efficiently. The running game executed. Red zone possessions were crisp. It was all working.
Derek Carr: Three touchdown passes in his first game of 2024. It took until Week 9 for him to produce those numbers in 2023. And he did it all without the ever-criticized “empty yards.”
Alontae Taylor: The slot corner became the first ever Saints defensive back with three sacks in a game.
A Little Bit Of Lagniappe:
Saints safeties Tyrann Mathieu, Will Harris Jr. and Jordan Howden all produced takeaways.
Johnson added a punt deflection to his earlier receiving touchdown.
Linebacker Anfernee Orji was a special teams ace with at least four tackles on kick returns.
Kubiak called plays from the sideline. Head coach Dennis Allen said that he will return to the sideline next week against the Dallas Cowboys.
Saints opened the game with motion in all five plays in their opening drive.
The Saints’ offense scored on their first nine possessions. They did not punt until their final two possessions when the reserves were in.
Kamara clocked in his 50th game with more than 100 yards from scrimmage.
