CHARLOTTE — It was anything but easy. But it was also something they weren't going to apologize for.
The Panthers came back to beat the Saints 23-22 Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, avenging a season-opening loss and stopping a five-game losing streak to improve to 2-7.
It also extended the Saints' losing streak to seven in a row (2-7).
Chuba Hubbard's second touchdown of the game with 2:18 left in the game was the margin on a day when both teams moved in fits and starts.
The Saints had a shot to come back before Mike Jackson broke up a fourth-down pass from Derek Carr.
Even with the win, there were nervous moments, particularly a fourth-quarter interception of Bryce Young, which seemed to turn the momentum on a day when many things went better for the Panthers.
Saints cornerback Shemar-Jean Charles, called up from the practice squad to cover for the ridiculous spate of injuries the Saints are enduring, ripped the ball away from Panthers wideout Xavier Legette in the fourth quarter.
But the Panthers were the ones kneeling out the game to celebrate a home win on a day when Legette scored his fourth touchdown of the year, and they got significant contributions from rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders and wide receiver Jalen Coker.
Sanders had four catches for 87 yards, including a remarkable hurdle-and-run gain of 46 yards in the third quarter, setting up a Hubbard touchdown run, which gave the Panthers a 17-13 lead to start the second half.
Young hit a couple of shots, and was timely when it mattered.
He finished the game 16-of-26 for 171 yards, with a touchdown and the interception.
They also played complementary football of a sort, holding the Saints to 22 — tying the season-low for points allowed in a game, matching the Raiders' losing total in Week 3.
— The Saints were short on targets early after Chris Olave suffered a concussion after a hard shot by Panthers safety Xavier Woods.
After a long delay, Olave was carted off the field on a backboard, and was transported to Atrium Health Carolinas.
He had movement in all his extremities but was undergoing further evaluation.
— The Panthers aren't exactly rich in targets themselves, which is why it was concerning when Legette left with a hand injury in the first half.
He came back out in the second and returned to the game but yielded his spot on the kickoff return team to Miles Sanders.
View all the action from the Panthers' game in Week 9 against the New Orleans Saints.
