TEAM STATS

• The Panthers held New Orleans to 128 yards, the fewest allowed in the 54-game all-time series with the Saints, and the fewest for New Orleans under head coach Sean Payton, who took over in 2006.
• Carolina recorded four sacks and had two interceptions. The Panthers' 10 sacks in the season's first two weeks are second-most through two games in franchise history (12, 1998).
• The Panthers held the Saints to just 48 yards on the ground with 2.8 yards per carry. 93 rush yards allowed through the first two games of a season are the fewest in franchise history.
• Carolina's defense held the Saints to a combined 2-of-13 on third and fourth downs. On the season, Carolina's defensive third-down percentage of 25.0 is half of last year's total and ranks second-best in the NFL after Sunday's early afternoon games.
• The Panthers held a 28-6 edge in first downs, the second-fewest first downs allowed in franchise history (5, at Chicago, 2017) and the fewest offensive first downs for New Orleans since 1997.
• The Panthers offense converted two of three red zone opportunities into touchdowns and hit a field goal on the other drive. Carolina also converted 8-of-15 third-down opportunities.
• Carolina scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time since Week 9 of 2020 at Kansas City.
• The Panthers special teams allowed a blocked field goal and an average of 28.8 yards per kickoff return, not making a touchback on six kickoffs.
• Carolina's time of possession of 38:32 was the 10th-highest for a single game in franchise history.

PLAYER STATS

Panthers

• Quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 305 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. It was his fifth career game with over 300 passing yards. He's posted strong first halves in consecutive games with passer ratings of 125.1 last week and 145.0 on Sunday.
• Running back Christian McCaffrey had his 29th career game with at least 100 scrimmage yards as he finished with 72 rushing yards and 65 receiving yards. He also scored the 30th rushing touchdown of his career.
• Wide receiver DJ Moore had eight catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, passing Muhsin Muhammad (216) for the most receptions through a Panthers wide receiver's first four seasons. Moore's touchdown catch was his fifth in the last four games against New Orleans.
• Tight end Dan Arnold had 55 receiving yards on three catches. His 18.3 yards per catch tied for the most by a Panthers tight end since Ed Dickson (35.0) in Detroit in 2017.
• Defensive end Haason Reddick had 1.5 sacks and a tackle for loss. His 3.0 sacks through the first two games tie for third-most to start a season in franchise history.
• Defensive end Brian Burns had a sack and four total tackles with two QB hits. He has the most career sacks (18.5) of any player in his 2019 draft class.
• Safety Juston Burris came up with his second interception as a Panther, while cornerback Jaycee Horn had his first.
• Kicker Zane Gonzalez made a 20- and 42-yard field goal, but had a 50-yard attempt blocked and missed an extra point.

Saints

• Running back Alvin Kamara managed just five rushing yards on eight attempts. It marked his fewest yards per rush (0.63) and fewest total rush yards in a game that he started.