A midseason rookie quarterback and a Northern Irish kicker with only three NFL games under his belt denied the Carolina Panthers a chance to seize first place in the NFC South.
Tyler Shough led New Orleans on two clutch scoring drives in the final five minutes, the game-winning drive capped by Charlie Smyth’s 47-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the Saints to a 20-17 comeback victory Sunday.
Smyth, 24, a former Gaelic football player whose NFL journey temporarily paused plans to become a primary school teacher, also drilled a 42-yard field goal earlier in the fourth quarter. His game-winner preserved the Saints’ second straight win over a contender and prevented Carolina (7-7) from taking sole possession of first place.
Shough, the Saints’ 40th overall pick, earned his third win in six starts, completing 24 of 32 passes for 272 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown to Chris Olave with 2:29 remaining. He also led the team in rushing with 32 yards and avoided turnovers.
Shough’s final carry of the game, a sliding run at the Carolina 44, drew an unnecessary roughness penalty that advanced the ball to the 29-yard line with nine seconds left, setting up Smyth’s decisive kick.
Carolina quarterback Bryce Young passed for 163 yards and a 32-yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 17-7 lead in the third quarter. Rico Dowdle’s early 4-yard touchdown had put Carolina ahead 7-0. Devin Neal’s 4-yard scoring run tied it at 7-7 after a lengthy, 95-yard drive that chewed more than 11 minutes off the clock.
Carolina nearly regained control late in the fourth quarter, but defensive tackle Bryan Bresee stuffed Chuba Hubbard on fourth-and-1, and a missed field goal following an offside penalty left points off the board. The Saints quickly capitalized, driving 78 yards in just over two minutes to set up the game-winning kick.
Injuries
Panthers: DE Turk Wharton (hamstring) did not play.
Saints: RB Devin Neal (hamstring) exited after his second-quarter touchdown. RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle) and WR Devaughn Vele (shoulder) left in the second half. S Justin Reid missed his second straight game with a knee injury.
Up Next
*Panthers: Host Tampa Bay next Sunday.
Saints: Host the New York Jets next Sunday.*
