Game Recap: New Orleans Saints 20, Carolina Panthers 17 | 2025 NFL Week 15
The New Orleans Saints secured a thrilling 20-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers, playing as NFC South spoilers for the second consecutive week. The decisive moment came with two seconds left on the clock, when Charlie Smyth executed a 47-yard field goal, capping a seven-play scoring drive led by quarterback Tyler Shough.
Photos from the game action are available at: https://www.neworleanssaints.com/photos/2025-nfl-week-15-carolina-panthers-vs-new-orleans-saints-photos-game-action
Key plays included:
- Audric Estime's 19-yard catch and run late in the fourth quarter.
- Tyler Shough's clutch pass to Chris Olave for 15 yards with under 20 seconds left.
- Chase Young's 9-yard sack of Bryce Young late in the fourth quarter.
- Tyler Shough's touchdown pass to Chris Olave, tying the game.
- Tyler Shough's pinpoint 16-yard laser to Chris Olave over the middle.
- Tyler Shough's 18-yard strike to Kevin Austin Jr. over the middle.
- Tyler Shough's side-arm strike to Devaughn Vele.
- Tyler Shough's 15-yard laser to Devaughn Vele moving chains.
- Devin Neal's 4-yard TD run.
- Chase Young stuffing the run.
- Devaughn Vele leaping up to snag a 17-yard strike from Shough.
- Charlie Smyth's 42-yard field goal trimming the Panthers' lead to 17-10.
- The Saints' defense stonewalling Chuba Hubbard for a massive fourth-down stop.
- Chris Olave hauling in a sliding sideline catch on an 18-yard strike from Tyler Shough.
- Juwan Johnson's 6-yard pass off a ricochet.
- Charlie Smyth's game-winning field goal.
The win improved the Saints' record to 4-10, 3-2 in the NFC South, while the loss dropped Carolina to 7-7, tied for first in the division with Tampa, a team the Saints upset last week.
With the score tied at 17, the Saints took over with 57 seconds to play at the 8-yard line, and quarterback Tyler Shough led a seven-play scoring drive, culminating in the game-winning field goal by Charlie Smyth.
The Panthers scored first on a 4-yard run by Rico Dowdle, leading until Shough's 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave tied the score at 11.
The Saints' first touchdown came on a 4-yard run by Devin Neal with 3:32 left in the second quarter, capping a 17-play, 95-yard drive that took 11:22. Neal left the game after his touchdown with a hamstring injury.
Earlier, Smyth made a 42-yard field goal with 1:56 to play in the third quarter, making it 17-10. This came after a 14-play, 48-yard drive in 7:58. A big stop by the defense set up Shough's TD pass to Olave, tying the score at 17.
Shough was 24 of 32 for 272 yards with one touchdown. Olave had six catches for 85 yards, while tight end Juwan Johnson added four catches for 30 yards. It was Shough's first win as the starting quarterback in the Caesars Superdome.
Receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) left the game in the second half with injuries. Vele had five catches for 69 yards.
The Saints will host the New York Jets (3-11) on Sunday, Dec. 21, at the Caesars Superdome in the final home game of the 2025 season. The Saints end the season with road games at Tennessee and Atlanta.
