Hubbard rushes for 151 yards as Panthers edge Saints 33-27

New Orleans, LA - Chuba Hubbard rushed for a game-high 151 yards and Carolina amassed 276 yards on the ground as the Panthers defeated the New Orleans Saints 33-27 in Week 10.

The Panthers entered the game at 7-1 and extended their winning streak to three games, continuing their strong season with a road victory built around an overwhelming statistical advantage in the running game. Carolina finished with 430 offensive yards, recorded 25 first downs and converted six of seven third-down opportunities.

Hubbard carried 19 times, the most rushing attempts by any player in the game, and scored a touchdown. His 37-yard run was also the game's longest rush. Quarterback Bryce Young added 88 yards on nine carries, giving Carolina two runners who combined for 239 yards.

"We kept getting production from the run game, and everybody stayed committed to it," Hubbard said. "When you finish with that many yards as a team, it says a lot about the work being done across the offense."

Carolina's ground production stood in sharp contrast to New Orleans' eight rushing yards. Travis Etienne Jr. accounted for 10 yards on nine attempts, while quarterback Tyler Shough finished with minus-2 yards on his lone carry. The Panthers therefore held a 268-yard advantage in rushing offense, even as the Saints generated nearly twice as many passing yards.

Young completed 12 of 21 passes for 154 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, finishing with a 56.5 passer rating. Jalen Coker caught three passes for 36 yards and Carolina's lone receiving touchdown, while Tetairoa McMillan led the Panthers with 51 receiving yards on three catches.

The passing turnovers left Young with an uneven individual line, but Carolina's broader offensive production included eight red-zone trips. The Panthers scored three touchdowns and kicked two field goals on those possessions inside the 20.

"There are throws I need to clean up, no question," Young said. "Turning it over twice isn't what I want. The good part is that we had a lot of different contributions and continued producing yards as an offense."

New Orleans found far more success through the air. Shough completed 24 of 32 passes for a game-high 305 yards and three touchdowns, posting a 109.5 passer rating. His two interceptions, however, gave him the same turnover total as Young.

Jordyn Tyson led the Saints in catches with six, producing 77 yards and a touchdown. Juwan Johnson recorded a game-high 92 receiving yards, while the Saints finished with 297 team passing yards and 305 offensive yards overall. New Orleans reached the red zone three times and scored one touchdown there.

"We were able to move the ball through the air, but the interceptions are frustrating," Shough said. "Three touchdown passes are good production, but after a loss you look at everything that could have been sharper."

The Panthers' defense supplied both of Carolina's takeaways. Bobby Okereke recorded an interception, the game's only sack and two pass deflections. Derrick Brown also intercepted Shough and returned the ball 54 yards, adding a pass deflection of his own.

"When the ball comes your way, you have to finish the play," Brown said. "We got two interceptions as a defense, and that's production we can take with us."

New Orleans also intercepted Young twice but did not record a sack. The Saints converted three of eight third downs and one of two fourth-down attempts, compared with Carolina's six third-down conversions in seven tries. Those figures accompanied a substantial gap in first downs, with the Panthers recording 25 to the Saints' 14.

The statistical contrasts made the six-point finish particularly notable. New Orleans owned the passing advantage and Shough threw three touchdown passes, but Carolina produced 125 more offensive yards, 11 more first downs and 268 more rushing yards. The teams finished even in interceptions with two apiece.

For the Saints, the defeat ended a two-game winning streak and followed a 2-6 start. Carolina, meanwhile, followed its own two-game streak entering the week with another victory, leaving New Orleans with a 33-27 result that reflected two very different offensive approaches.

Up Next

The Panthers will return home in Week 11 to host the Baltimore Ravens, looking to build on their third consecutive win. The Saints will travel to face the Chicago Bears as they try to rebound from the loss.