Last-second field goal leads Panthers past Saints in season finale
On the final week of his 13-week tryout to become the Panthers’ full-time head coach, interim coach Steve Wilks somehow kept Carolina in a game that featured a dormant passing attack, double-digit punts, multiple player ejections and two game-swinging Sam Darnold interceptions.
Despite gaining just 32 net passing yards, the Panthers beat the New Orleans Saints 10-7 on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome in their Week 18 season finale. Kicker Eddy Piñeiro made a game-winning, 42-yard field goal as time expired, earning for Carolina its first winning record against the NFC South since 2015.
“It was more than just a kick,” Piñeiro said. “Being able to do it for my teammates, for our coaches and the whole organization, that is the way we wanted to bounce back and finish the season.”
The Panthers’ defense and special teams pushed Carolina (7-10) to victory. But Darnold completed the game’s biggest throw with 14 seconds to play. Receiver Terrace Marshall opened across the middle and gained 21 yards, setting up Piñeiro’s winning kick.
“We’ve played a few of these low-scoring games,” long snapper JJ Jansen said. “Today turned into one of those special teams games where both defenses were holding serve and there was a lot of Johnny Hekker pinning the team back. Then Eddy at the end of the game.“
The Panthers were low-scoring because Darnold could not get the passing game moving. He made a few key scrambles, but Wilks and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo leaned on Carolina’s running game rather than risking a Darnold turnover. That conservative approach only lasted so long. Carolina got the ball back with 1:47 to play following a Saints punt. Starting on its own 13-yard line, Darnold threw his second interception on the drive’s first play. The throw was targeted for DJ Moore deep down the right sideline.
But the Panthers’ defense dominated New Orleans all game. The Saints had prime field position after the turnover late, but were forced to settle for a 55-yard field-goal attempt from Wil Lutz. His kick was partially blocked and hooked to the left, though, handing the ball right back to Carolina.
A few plays later, the Panthers put the game on Piñeiro’s foot.
“(We) always talk about don’t allow ‘it’ to get in the way,” Wilks said. “(We faced) so many different ‘its’ throughout the course of the year. And for those guys to circle the wagons and, once again, find a way to come together and win a football game is truly impressive.”
From coach firings to player trades, the Panthers weathered an onslaught of adversity this season. After an emotionally draining and playoff-crushing loss to the Buccaneers last week, Carolina had nothing besides pride to play for in Week 18.
The team was without star edge rusher Brian Burns, who did not play due to an ankle injury. Before halftime, both Austin Corbett (knee) and Brady Christensen (ankle) were ruled out. Running back D’Onta Foreman was the team’s best offensive option — until he was ejected early in the third quarter for striking defensive end Marcus Davenport in the facemask with a closed hand. Davenport was also ejected for initially striking Foreman in a similar manner following a Foreman rush for no gain. Davenport made the tackle and traded words with Foreman after the play and before the physical exchange.
Carolina scored eight plays later. Running backs Chuba Hubbard and Raheem Blackshear carried the Panthers to New Orleans’ 3-yard line. Then, Darnold kept a read-option run but fumbled when reaching for the goal line. Guard Michael Jordan fell on the live ball, scoring his first career touchdown.
Wilks commended the way Jordan and the Panthers’ backups played.
“That’s just what this team is all about,” Wilks said. “When one guy goes down, the next guy is there to pick up the load.”
Jordan was on the field for the winning kick.
“I saw it going in before it even happened. It was really emotional because we finished as a team together,” Jordan said. “It says that we all bought into the coach that Coach Wilks is.”
The Panthers gained only 60 net yards in the first half. Not much changed in the second half as Darnold finished with five completions in 15 attempts for 43 yards. His 2.8 quarterback rating and 33% completion percentage were both career lows.
Hubbard carried the offense after Foreman’s ejection. The Panthers ran 27 offensive plays without Foreman. Hubbard gained 47 yards on 16 carries during that stretch.
New Orleans squandered several first-half scoring chances as the Panthers’ offense meandered in its own territory for 30 minutes. Lutz missed a 44-yard field goal with 14:20 left in the second quarter. The Saints traveled 35 yards on seven plays before Lutz ended the drive wide left.
Seven minutes later, the Saints failed to convert a fourth-and-1 from Carolina’s 20-yard line. New Orleans tried rushing Alvin Kamara up the middle but linebacker Frankie Luvu jackknifed inside and tackled the Pro Bowl running back for a loss of 3. Just before halftime, cornerback C.J. Henderson forced rookie receiver Chris Olave to fumble after he made a 12-yard catch at the Carolina 24. The Panthers recovered and entered halftime down, 7-0.
The Saints scored first by targeting Josh Norman. The 35-year-old veteran started in place of second-year cornerback Keith Taylor. New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton wasted no time attacking Norman. Dalton completed all four of his opening-series pass attempts, gaining 59 passing yards on the eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
Olave caught two passes on the drive. The second went for 25 yards and a touchdown against Norman. Olave caught a quick pass and Norman missed the open-field tackle that allowed the score.
The Panthers’ first three drives produced just 25 yards and one first down, foreshadowing the stagnant performance that followed. However, thanks to Piñeiro, Carolina found a way to win.
“I told you guys (after Piñeiro’s mistakes in Atlanta) that we weren’t bringing anyone else in,” Wilks said. “We weren’t trying anyone else out. We believe in Eddy and Eddy stayed the course. He helped us win a lot of football games, and he won this one today for us.”
This story was originally published January 8, 2023 at 4:19 PM.
