New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers: 2023 Week 2 Recap

Game story

In Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season on 2023-09-18, the New Orleans Saints took care of business against the Carolina Panthers, pulling away with a 20–17 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 24 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

D. Carr (New Orleans Saints) paced the passing game, with +0.11 total EPA, and -2.0% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +4.56 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.6% win probability) landed in the second quarter when Carolina Panthers changed the game: (1:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young sacked at NO 23 for -5 yards (96-C.Granderson). FUMBLES (96-C.Granderson) [96-C.Granderson], touched at NO 21, RECOVERED by NO-29-P.Adebo at NO 41.

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 T. Hill · New Orleans Saints · Rushing · +4.56 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.51 EPA/play
2. 2 R. Shaheed · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +3.86 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.97 EPA/play
3. 3 A. Thielen · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +3.23 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.32 EPA/play
4. 4 M. Thomas · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.66 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Olave · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +2.09 total EPA · 11 snaps · +0.19 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Hubbard · Carolina Panthers · Rushing · +2.06 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.03 EPA/play
7. 7 F. Moreau · New Orleans Saints · Receiving · +1.76 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.88 EPA/play
8. 8 H. Hurst · Carolina Panthers · Receiving · +1.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.36 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 — T. Jones (Q3 18:03)
• New Orleans Saints — T. Jones (Q4 3:18)
• Carolina Panthers — A. Thielen (B. Young pass) (Q4 1:21)

Field goals

• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q1 52:10)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q1 45:39)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q1 45:36)
• New Orleans Saints — B. Grupe (Q2 39:55)
• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q3 24:15)
• Carolina Panthers — E. Pineiro (Q4 5:34)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

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

The opening quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 6–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 34 (Q1 52:10) — (7:10) 4-E.Pineiro 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 10 (Q1 45:39) — (:39) 19-B.Grupe 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the NO 35 (Q1 45:36) — 19-B.Grupe kicks 65 yards from NO 35 to end zone, Touchback..

The second quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 3–0. New Orleans Saints connected on a field goal from the CAR 5 (Q2 39:55) — (9:55) 19-B.Grupe 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The third quarter: New Orleans Saints won the period 7–3. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 36 (Q3 24:15) — (9:15) 4-E.Pineiro 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q3 18:03) — (3:03) 34-T.Jones right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q3 17:56) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley..

The fourth quarter: Carolina Panthers won the period 17–7. Carolina Panthers connected on a field goal from the NO 18 (Q4 5:34) — (5:34) 4-E.Pineiro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.; New Orleans Saints found the end zone from the CAR 2 (Q4 3:18) — (3:18) 34-T.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; New Orleans Saints added 1 points from the CAR 15 (Q4 3:14) — 19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 3 (Q4 1:21) — (1:21) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short right to 19-A.Thielen for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Carolina Panthers found the end zone from the NO 2 (Q4 1:16) — TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-B.Young pass to 19-A.Thielen is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS..

Turning points

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young sacked at NO 23 for -5 yards (96-C.Granderson). FUMBLES (96-C.Granderson) [96-C.Granderson], touched at NO 21, RECOVERED by NO-29-P.Adebo at NO 41. [WPA -16.6% · EPA -4.77]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 22:22) — (7:22) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep left to 12-C.Olave to CAR 30 for 42 yards (23-C.Henderson). [WPA +15.7% · EPA +4.13]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:16) — (3:16) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right intended for 12-C.Olave INTERCEPTED by 24-V.Bell at NO 48. 24-V.Bell to NO 37 for 11 yards (34-T.Jones). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -3.22]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 22-R.Shaheed to CAR 35 for 45 yards (26-D.Jackson). [WPA +12.6% · EPA +3.31]
• Carolina Panthers (Q4 6:20) — (6:20) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young sacked at NO 18 for -5 yards (56-D.Davis). [WPA -12.1% · EPA -1.48]

Impact plays

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

• Carolina Panthers (Q2 31:52) — (1:52) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young sacked at NO 23 for -5 yards (96-C.Granderson). FUMBLES (96-C.Granderson) [96-C.Granderson], touched at NO 21, RECOVERED by NO-29-P.Adebo at NO 41. [WPA -16.6% · EPA -4.77]
• New Orleans Saints (Q3 22:22) — (7:22) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep left to 12-C.Olave to CAR 30 for 42 yards (23-C.Henderson). [WPA +15.7% · EPA +4.13]
• New Orleans Saints (Q4 4:52) — (4:52) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right to 22-R.Shaheed to CAR 35 for 45 yards (26-D.Jackson). [WPA +12.6% · EPA +3.31]
• New Orleans Saints (Q2 33:16) — (3:16) (Shotgun) 4-D.Carr pass deep right intended for 12-C.Olave INTERCEPTED by 24-V.Bell at NO 48. 24-V.Bell to NO 37 for 11 yards (34-T.Jones). [WPA -14.3% · EPA -3.22]

Quarterback report card

D.Carr led all passers in efficiency for New Orleans Saints, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• D.Carr (New Orleans Saints) · 42 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · -2.0% CPOE · +0.00 EPA/play · +0.11 total EPA
• B.Young (Carolina Panthers) · 42 dropbacks · 52.4% completion · +3.4% CPOE · -0.12 EPA/play · -5.09 total EPA

Team stats comparison

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

By the numbers

Despite the final score, New Orleans Saints generated the better offensive EPA per play (+0.01 vs -0.05), suggesting they moved the ball more efficiently.

• Carolina Panthers: 11 drives, -3.89 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
• New Orleans Saints: 11 drives, +0.96 total EPA, 4 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.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• T. Hill (New Orleans Saints) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• B. Young (CAR) 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. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q1 52:10 · NO 34 · Score 0-3
   (7:10) 4-E.Pineiro 52 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
2. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 45:39 · CAR 10 · Score 3-3
   (:39) 19-B.Grupe 28 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
3. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q1 45:36 · NO 35 · Score 3-3
   19-B.Grupe kicks 65 yards from NO 35 to end zone, Touchback.
4. New Orleans Saints FG (+3) — Q2 39:55 · CAR 5 · Score 6-3
   (9:55) 19-B.Grupe 23 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
5. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q3 24:15 · NO 36 · Score 6-6
   (9:15) 4-E.Pineiro 54 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
6. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q3 18:03 · CAR 2 · Score 12-6
   (3:03) 34-T.Jones right guard for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
7. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q3 17:56 · CAR 15 · Score 13-6
   19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
8. Carolina Panthers FG (+3) — Q4 5:34 · NO 18 · Score 13-9
   (5:34) 4-E.Pineiro 36 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-44-J.Jansen, Holder-10-J.Hekker.
9. New Orleans Saints TD (+6) — Q4 3:18 · CAR 2 · Score 19-9
   (3:18) 34-T.Jones up the middle for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
10. New Orleans Saints XP (+1) — Q4 3:14 · CAR 15 · Score 20-9
    19-B.Grupe extra point is GOOD, Center-49-Z.Wood, Holder-39-L.Hedley.
11. Carolina Panthers TD (+6) — Q4 1:21 · NO 3 · Score 20-15
    (1:21) (Shotgun) 9-B.Young pass short right to 19-A.Thielen for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
12. Carolina Panthers TD (+8) — Q4 1:16 · NO 2 · Score 20-17
    TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. 9-B.Young pass to 19-A.Thielen is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS.