Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints: 2023 Week 14 Recap

Game story

In Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-12-10, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 28–6 final that controlled the game from start to finish.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

B. Young (Carolina Panthers) paced the passing game, with -26.20 total EPA, and -21.2% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, M. Sanders (Carolina Panthers) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.12 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-18.8% win probability) landed in the opening quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (6:30) 9-B.Young sacked at CAR 37 for -12 yards (31-J.Howden). FUMBLES (31-J.Howden) [56-D.Davis], RECOVERED by NO-20-P.Werner at CAR 37. 20-P.Werner to CAR 36 for 1 yard.

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 M. Sanders · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +4.12 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.41 EPA/play
2. 2 A. Thielen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +4.01 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.57 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Graham · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.58 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.79 EPA/play
4. 4 A. Perry · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.56 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.56 EPA/play
5. 5 A. Kamara · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +2.24 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Olave · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.65 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.33 EPA/play
7. 7 C. Hubbard · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +1.42 total EPA · 23 snaps · +0.06 EPA/play
8. 8 I. Smith-Marsette · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +0.99 total EPA · 1 snaps · +0.99 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• New Orleans Saints — A. Kamara (Q2 45:00)
• New Orleans Saints — D. Jackson (Q2 34:43)
• New Orleans Saints — C. Olave (D. Carr pass) (Q4 6:03)
• New Orleans Saints — J. Graham (D. Carr pass) (Q4 4:34)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q2 39:21)
• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q3 20:00)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 14–3. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 9 (Q2 45:00) — (15:00) 41-A.Kamara left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 44:55) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 29 (Q2 39:21) — (9:21) 4-E.Pineiro 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the NO 74 (Q2 34:43); New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q2 34:37) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The third quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 3–0. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 11 (Q3 20:00) — (5:00) 4-E.Pineiro 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker..

The fourth quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 20–0. New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 7 (Q4 6:03) — (6:03) 67-L.Young reported in as eligible. 4-D.Carr pass short right to 12-C.Olave for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 5:59) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 4 (Q4 4:34) — (4:34) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 15 (Q4 4:29) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 51:30) — (6:30) 9-B.Young sacked at CAR 37 for -12 yards (31-J.Howden). FUMBLES (31-J.Howden) [56-D.Davis], RECOVERED by NO-20-P.Werner at CAR 37. 20-P.Werner to CAR 36 for 1 yard. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.55]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 34:43) — (4:43) (Punt formation) 10-J.Hekker to CAR 16 for -10 yards (45-N.Sewell). FUMBLES (45-N.Sewell), touched at CAR 15, RECOVERED by NO-52-D.Jackson at CAR 8. 52-D.Jackson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CAR-10- [WPA -10.6% · EPA -6.05]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 22:18) — (7:18) 6-M.Sanders right guard pushed ob at NO 1 for 48 yards (29-P.Adebo). [WPA +8.9% · EPA +4.15]
• New Orleans Saints (Q1 54:07) — (9:07) 19-B.Grupe 29 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Left, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley. [WPA -8.6% · EPA -3.59]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 15:52) — (:52) 9-B.Young pass deep left to 19-A.Thielen pushed ob at NO 19 for 32 yards (29-P.Adebo). [WPA +8.2% · EPA +2.37]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Carolina Panthers (Q1 51:30) — (6:30) 9-B.Young sacked at CAR 37 for -12 yards (31-J.Howden). FUMBLES (31-J.Howden) [56-D.Davis], RECOVERED by NO-20-P.Werner at CAR 37. 20-P.Werner to CAR 36 for 1 yard. [WPA -18.8% · EPA -6.55]
• Carolina Panthers (Q2 34:43) — (4:43) (Punt formation) 10-J.Hekker to CAR 16 for -10 yards (45-N.Sewell). FUMBLES (45-N.Sewell), touched at CAR 15, RECOVERED by NO-52-D.Jackson at CAR 8. 52-D.Jackson for 8 yards, TOUCHDOWN. CAR-10- [WPA -10.6% · EPA -6.05]
• Carolina Panthers (Q3 22:18) — (7:18) 6-M.Sanders right guard pushed ob at NO 1 for 48 yards (29-P.Adebo). [WPA +8.9% · EPA +4.15]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 13:39) — (13:39) 4-E.Pineiro 41 yard field goal is No Good, Hit Left Upright, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker. [WPA -5.7% · EPA -4.01]

Quarterback report card

B.Young led all passers in efficiency for Carolina Panthers, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• B.Young (Carolina Panthers) · 45 dropbacks · 28.9% completion · -21.2% CPOE · -0.58 EPA/play · -26.20 total EPA
• D.Carr (New Orleans Saints) · 27 dropbacks · 66.7% completion · +8.5% CPOE · -0.35 EPA/play · -9.56 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

New Orleans Saints held the efficiency edge in offensive EPA per play (-0.15 vs -0.35), even if the scoreboard told a different story.

• Carolina Panthers: 12 drives, -33.03 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 12 drives, -10.34 total EPA, 3 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• New Orleans Saints leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• M. Sanders (Carolina Panthers) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Young (CAR) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Carr (NO) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 45:00 · CAR 9 · Score 0-6
   (15:00) 41-A.Kamara left tackle for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 44:55 · CAR 15 · Score 0-7
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
3. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q2 39:21 · NO 29 · Score 3-7
   (9:21) 4-E.Pineiro 47 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
4. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q2 34:43 · NO 74 · Score 3-13
   (4:43) (Punt formation) 10-J.Hekker to CAR 16 for -10 yards (45-N.Sewell). FUMBLES (45-N.Sewell), touched at CAR 15, RECOVERED by NO-52-D.Jackson at CAR 8. 52-D
5. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q2 34:37 · CAR 15 · Score 3-14
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
6. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 20:00 · NO 11 · Score 6-14
   (5:00) 4-E.Pineiro 29 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
7. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 6:03 · CAR 7 · Score 6-20
   (6:03) 67-L.Young reported in as eligible. 4-D.Carr pass short right to 12-C.Olave for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
8. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 5:59 · CAR 15 · Score 6-21
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 4:34 · CAR 4 · Score 6-27
   (4:34) 4-D.Carr pass short right to 80-J.Graham for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints TD (+7) — Q4 4:29 · CAR 15 · Score 6-28
    19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.