Rashid Shaheed is down there somewhere. A 59-yard TD from Derek Carr. pic.x.com/sdfyn6vkcx

Tight ends who reached 12 fantasy points in Week 1 (so far): Isaiah Likely - 26.1 Foster Moreau - 14.3

Chase Young just committed a crime ?

@NFL_DovKleiman: BRYCE YOUNG PICKED OFF AGAIN! Bench him already... https://t.co/BT5l7c0uDy https://t.co/bB8keZpphc

Saints CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) questionable to return vs. Panthers nfl.com/news/2024-nfl-... pic.x.com/rjhouwa7ap

Tyrann forces the fumble, SAINTS BALL

FOX pic.twitter.com/7AhnwQwPzF

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 8, 2024

The New Orleans Saints’ strong start to Week 1 has continued late into the second quarter, as Tyrann Mathieu forced a fumble on Jonathan Mingo and then recovered it through the scrum of players going for it.

This is Mathieu’s first forced fumble and first recovery since 2022 when he got his first for the Saints and only to date for his new team. Mathieu did a great job sticking with the play and running along behind Mingo before diving out and punching the ball from behind, which knocked it out onto the ground and into the scrum

Saints wide receiver Rashid Shaheed is off to a good start on the 2024 season.

30-0 Saints

FOX pic.twitter.com/5dS4RMQgxh

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) September 8, 2024

Juwan Johnson’s first catch of the year went for a New Orleans Saints touchdown.

Johnson returned from a foot injury when the Saints returned to New Orleans for the latter portion of training camp. He hasn’t been back for long, but he’s already making an impact.

Rashid Shaheed set up the offense with a short field after a dynamic punt return to the Panthers’ 16 yard line. One play later, the Saints were celebrating in the end zone

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1832821197156847784

It’s the first New Orleans Saints game of the 2024 regular season, which means it’s time to check the first Demario Davis pregame speech, which you can watch here.

The team’s charismatic leader picked up where Drew Brees left off and maintained this tradition of fiery speeches and group chants to get his teammates fired up,  and it’s always worth watching as the first highlight of game day.

Davis’ message for Week 1? We’re about to jump out of the airplane and skydive, so strap in and trust the guys around you. It’s time to go to work

Unfortunately, the beginning of the latest chapter for Carolina Panthers football looked a lot like the previous story.

Here’s everything we know from Sunday’s regular-season opener in New Orleans . . .

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The Saints never allowed the Panthers a centimeter of oxygen, dialing up a 59-yard touchdown pass to Shaheed on the very first possession of the afternoon. Then, on Carolina’s very first touch, Young was picked off on his very first pass of the season by cornerback Will Harris

The New Orleans Saints had a litany of position battles throughout the offseason, the majority of which were clearly resolved prior to Week 1’s kickoff against the Carolina Panthers.

One such battle had not been solved, however, that being the backup quarterback. It was still listed as “or” on the depth chart between Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler. Ultimately, the choice was made pregame, with Haener taking the number two spot and Rattler initially being inactive. He’ll still dress out in his uniform as the emergency third quarterback

The New Orleans Saints have an offensive line injury in Week 1, with starting left guard Lucas Patrick being removed from the game with a toe injury. He was replaced, intriguingly enough, by Landon Young rather than Nick Saldiveri for the last few drives. Saldiveri opened training camp as the starter but was sidelined for the rest of the summer with an injury of his own.

That could be an interesting subplot to watch in the coming weeks depending on the severity of Patrick’s injury. Patrick was initially questionable to return to the matchup, but the team later downgraded his status and said he would not return