The Morgan-Canales era begins in Carolina as the Panthers kick off the 2024 regular season against the NFC South rival Saints on September 8. This will be the second-consecutive season that the Panthers will open their season on the road.
Dave Canales brings 14 seasons of NFL experience to Carolina. He comes to the Panthers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he spent one season as the team’s offensive coordinator. Canales spent his first 13 years in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks (2010-22).
The Panthers, coming off a 31-26 win over the Bills, enter the regular season with a 1-2 record in the preseason. They were one of two offenses in the NFL without a turnover (Seahawks) and one of six teams to score on every redzone trip (Saints, Bengals, Jaguars, Ravens, Bills) during the preseason.
The Saints are led by third-year Head Coach Dennis Allen, who led the team to a 9-8 record last season. The Saints finished second in the NFC South in 2023.
This will mark the 59th regular season matchup between the two divisional foes with New Orleans leading 30-28. The Saints also lead the series in New Orleans 15-14. The two teams last met in Week 14 last season, a 28-6 win for the Saints.
The Panthers face the Saints to open up the regular season for just the third time in team history and for the first time since 2005. The Saints have won both of their previous Week 1 matchups against the Panthers.
The Matchup
About Carolina
- The Panthers defense allowed 293.9 yards per game in 2023, which was the fourth-lowest allowed in the NFL and third-lowest allowed in a season in franchise history.
- DT Derrick Brown set an NFL record for the most tackles by a defensive lineman in a season (according to StatsPass, since 1994) with a careerhigh 103, surpassing Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins’ 2022 total of 98. He was the only player in the NFL in 2023 to record 100+ tackles, 15+ quarterback hits and 7+ tackles for loss.
- RB Chuba Hubbard’s 59 rushing first downs tied for the fifth-most in the NFL this season and ranked third in franchise history for a single season. He set career-highs in rushing attempts (238), rushing yards (902), receptions (39) and receiving yards (233).
- QB Bryce Young recorded 20+ completions in eight-consecutive games to start his rookie season, ranking second all-time behind Justin Herbert (15-straight games, 2020).
About New Orleans
- Having won their last three division games in 2023, a Saints win would give them a four-game winning streak in the NFC South, their longest since winning four straight from Dec. 9, 2021-Sept. 11, 2022.
- New Orleans QB Derek Carr will be looking to improve his career record as a starter in season openers to 7-4 with a Saints victory. Carr will also be looking to stay undefeated in starts against the Panthers, improving to a 5-0 record against them.
- With rooke T Taliese Fuaga, the club’s first round pick in 2024 scheduled to open at left tackle on Sunday, he would be the first Saints rookie to start a season opener at left tackle since Ryan Ramczyk in 2017.
- TE Taysom Hill has 38 career touchdowns, ranked 11th in club record books. With one more touchdown, he would tie WR Lance Moore for tenth in and with two would take sole possession of tenth.
- DE Cameron Jordan’s 27 multi-sack games are tied for first in franchise record books with LB Rickey Jackson, needing one more to become the franchise’s all-time leader. His six three-sack games also ties Jackson for first in club history, needing one more to become the franchise leader.
Connections
Panthers OLB K’Lavon Chaisson (2017-19) and G Damien Lewis(2018-19) both attended LSU, while G Robert Hunt went to college at Lousiana-Lafayette (2015-19). S Xavier Woods grew up in Monroe, La. and attended Louisiana-Lafayette (2015-19).
Saints WR A.T. Perry (2018-22) attended Wake Forest, LB D’Marco Jackson (2017-21) went to school at Appalachian State and C Lucas Patrick went to Duke (2011-15). T Nick Saldiveri grew up in Waxhaw, N.C. and T Oli Udoh grew up in in Fayetteville, N.C. and went to Elon (2014-18). QB Spencer Rattler (2022-23) and FB Adam Prentice (2020) both went to the University of South Carolina while DT Bryan Bresee attended Clemson (2020-22).
Panthers vs Saints
All-Time Series (Regular Season): 58 matchups | New Orleans leads 30-28
Last Regular Season Game: 12/10/23 | Carolina 6 vs New Orleans 28
Series Record at New Orleans: New Orleans leads 15-14
How to Watch
Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET Fox: Play by Play – Chris Myers, Analyst – Mark Schlereth, Sideline – Jen Hale
Live Stream: Panthers.com
Radio: WRFX 99.7FM in Charlotte market – Jim Szoke (Play by Play), Kurt Coleman (Color), Kevin Donnalley (Color), Sharon Thorsland (Sideline)
Per Release