The New Orleans Saints secured a 20-17 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 15 with a 47-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth as time expired. The win improved the Saints to 4-10 and marked their second straight upset in the NFC South. Quarterback Tyler Shough led a crucial late drive to set up the game-winner.
In a thrilling NFC South matchup at the Caesars Superdome on December 14, 2025, the New Orleans Saints pulled off a 20-17 upset against the Carolina Panthers. The game remained tight throughout, with the Saints trailing until a dramatic finish.
The Panthers struck first with a 4-yard touchdown run by Rico Dowdle on their opening drive, taking an early lead. The Saints responded in the second quarter, capping a 17-play, 95-yard drive that consumed 11:22 with a 4-yard touchdown run by Devin Neal at the 3:32 mark, tying the score at 7-7. Neal exited the game shortly after with a hamstring injury.
Carolina regained the lead at 17-7 before halftime, though exact details on their additional scoring were not specified in reports. In the third quarter, with 1:56 remaining, Charlie Smyth trimmed the deficit to 17-10 via a 42-yard field goal, following a 14-play, 48-yard Saints drive that took 7:58.
The Saints defense made a key stand late, stopping Chuba Hubbard on a crucial fourth-down attempt. This set up Tyler Shough's 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Olave, tying the game at 17-17. Shough finished 24-of-32 for 272 yards and one touchdown in his first home win as starter.
With 57 seconds left and the ball at their own 8-yard line, Shough orchestrated a seven-play drive culminating in Smyth's 47-yard game-winner with two seconds on the clock. Chris Olave led receivers with six catches for 85 yards, while Juwan Johnson added four for 30 yards. Devaughn Vele had five receptions for 69 yards before leaving with a shoulder injury; right guard Cesar Ruiz also departed with an ankle issue.
The victory boosted the Saints to 4-10 overall and 3-2 in the division, spoiling Carolina's playoff push as the Panthers fell to 7-7, tied for first with Tampa Bay. New Orleans next hosts the New York Jets on December 21.
