Bryce Young led the Carolina Panthers to a thrilling 23-22 comeback victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, adding another chapter to a challenging season for Saints quarterback Derek Carr. The narrow loss marked a significant—and unfortunate—milestone for Carr, who became the first quarterback in NFL history to lose to 31 different teams, via CBS Sports. The only team Carr hasn’t faced defeat against? His former franchise, the Las Vegas Raiders, whom he played with for nine seasons before joining the Saints in 2023. Carr will have a chance to make it 32 when the Saints host the Raiders on December 29.
The loss on Sunday deepened the Saints’ season struggles, as they have now dropped seven straight games following a surprising 2-0 start. In the first two weeks, the Saints impressed the NFL with a high-powered offense, scoring a league-high 91 points in decisive wins over the Panthers and Dallas Cowboys. However, the season took a sharp downturn after Week 2, with the Saints now tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-7, sitting at the bottom of the NFC South standings alongside the Panthers.
Derek Carr’s season has mirrored the Saints’ rollercoaster trajectory. After a promising start, Carr suffered an oblique strain in Week 5 that kept him sidelined for three games. He returned on Sunday, hoping to regain momentum, only to see his team narrowly edged out by a determined Panthers squad led by rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
“There’s still a lot of season left, but it’s frustrating to come back and have it end like this,” Carr said, reflecting on the close defeat. The Saints’ offense struggled to regain its early-season form, falling short against a Panthers team that has also had its share of ups and downs this year. Young, who had previously been benched, reclaimed his spot as the Panthers’ starter and rose to the occasion, delivering a comeback win that boosted Carolina’s morale and dealt another blow to the Saints’ hopes for a turnaround.
Now, the Saints look to bounce back in a divisional showdown next week against the Atlanta Falcons, seeking to break their losing streak and reignite their season. For Carr, December 29 will be a date to watch as he faces off against his former Raiders team, with the potential to make history again—this time, ideally, in a more favorable light.