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Panthers end 5-game losing streak with win over Saints

After the Saints lost, the team fired head coach Dennis Allen.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers ended a five-game losing streak with a win over the New Orleans Saints for their first home win of the season.

Running Back Chuba Hubbard scored on a 16-yard score with two minutes left in the game to give the Panthers (2-7) a 23-22 lead. New Orleans (2-7) failed to score on the ensuing drive, giving the Panthers a much-needed win in the division.

The game was much more contested than the first meeting between these divisional opponents this season. New Orleans won that Week 1 contest 47-10 with scores in their first nine possessions. The Saints have now lost seven straight games after starting 2-0.

Young had 171 yards passing with a touchdown pass while completing 62% of his passes, a massive improvement over his first start of the year against the Saints. The start was the second in a row for Young in place of Andy Dalton, who was hurt in a car crash in October. 

It's the first game to finish with a one-score advantage for the Panthers this season. The 22 points allowed by the Carolina defense tied for the fewest through the team's first nine games. 

Hubbard scored twice and gained 72 yards rushing. 

Dereck Carr had 236 yards passing and a touchdown for the Saints. New Orleans' Alvin Kamara had 155 yards rushing. 

"That was fun... I'm proud of the way that we finished," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said after the win. "Really excited for [the team]."

Canales commended Young's performance in Sunday's win but did not commit to choosing a starting quarterback for next week's game against the Giants in Germany.

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The Panthers defense made two third-down stands in the first quarter to limit New Orleans to two field goals and keep it a one-score game. 

Carolina took the lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Young to rookie receiver Xavier Legette in the second quarter. The drive started in New Orleans territory after an impressive defensive stand forced the Saints to punt at their own 10-yard line. 

The Saints marched 78 yards on their next drive to take a 13-7 lead. Tight end Taysom Hill scored the touchdown with a 7-yard run. Another punt from inside New Orleans’ 15-yard line set the Panthers up with great field position late in the second quarter. Raheem Blackshear made a 14-yard return to the Saints 43-yard line while an unnecessary roughness penalty on New Orleans linebacker Willie Gay gave the Panthers 15 free yards. 

The Panthers were only able to score a field goal on the drive, though, and trailed 13-10 at halftime.

An 86-yard drive to start the second half ended with a Chuba Hubbard touchdown that gave the Panthers a 17-13 lead. New Orleans added a field goal on their next drive as the Panthers led 17-16 going into the fourth quarter.

The Saints took the lead in the fourth quarter with a Carr touchdown pass to tight end Foster Moreau. A missed two-point conversion left the score 22-17.

Young threw an interception on Carolina's next drive that initially was a catch by Legette until cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles snatched it away. 

The Panthers got the ball back with just over three minutes left in the game. Young completed a big third-down pass to Legette before a 22-yard pass interference penalty on the next play moved the Panthers into scoring territory. Hubbard ran in a 16-yard score on the next play.

Carolina made a big stand on the next drive to secure the win. 

The win ends a three-game losing streak to the Saints. It's the Panthers' first divisional win since a Week 15 victory over the Falcons. Carolina moves to third place in the NFC South with the victory.

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This article will be updated.

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