Panthers seize NFC South lead with 20-17 victory over Saints

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Carolina Panthers kicker Ryan Fitzgerald nailed a 54-yard field goal as time expired Sunday (Nov. 15) to beat the Saints, 20-17.

With the victory, Carolina (4-5) took sole possession of first place in the NFC South. The Saints (3-6) fell to 1-5 this season at Caesars Superdome.

Trailing 17-14, Charlie Smyth tied the NFC South matchup with a 55-yard field goal. It was his first field goal on the afternoon.

Alvin Kamara scored his second touchdown of the contest in the fourth quarter. Tyler Shough connected with Kamara for a 4-yard touchdown. The duo gave the Saints their first lead of the game, 14-10.

Alvin Kamara: 3 touches, 8 yards, 2 TD’s

Saints 14-10 Panthers pic.twitter.com/rlXuPGZHRm

— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) November 15, 2026

The Saints finally got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. On his first touch of the game, Kamara scored on a 3-yard run. That tied things up in the Caesars Superdome, 7-7.

AK! TD!

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/jAPpB6dkB1

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 15, 2026

The Panthers had already missed one field goal try and the Saints had committed two turnovers before Carolina finally scored the first points of the game. A 2-yard touchdown run by Chuba Hubbard staked the Panthers to a 7-0 lead with 6:43 left in the first half.

The Panthers took that 7-0 lead into halftime, as the Saints managed just 107 yards of offense in the first two quarters.

The Saints are on the road next Sunday, traveling to Chicago for a noon game against quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears.

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