The New Orleans Saints had just about everything go their way in their 47-10 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers. Embattled quarterback Derek Carr threw three touchdowns, the offensive line held up against Carolina’s pass rush, and Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor set the Saints single-game record with three sacks, tied for the most ever for a defensive back. Widely overlooked behind big-name players like Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo, the 2022 second-round pick technically didn’t start in the season opener. However, he made the most of his time on the field, as his well-time blitzes led to three sacks.
According to the New Orleans Saints PR team, Alontae Taylor became the first defensive back in team history to record three sacks in a single game. That is noteworthy enough, but Taylor’s night also tied an NFL record. Taylor had a rough first two seasons in the league but reportedly impressed throughout training camp. While nobody expected this type of performance, the cornerback proved that he still has the skills that made him a second-round pick all those years ago.
Alontae Taylor Sets Saints Franchise Record With Three Sacks In One Game
Alontae Taylor had a great game, but these sacks say a lot about the state of the Panthers as well. Carolina spent absurd amounts of money to improve the offense, bringing in guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis while adding pass-catching weapons in Diontae Johnson and first-round pick Xavier Legette. After one game, these investments appear to be all for naught, as teams can only go as far as their quarterback can bring them.
How Good Can the Saints Be?
The NFL is a competitive league, and even the worst teams are filled with some of the greatest athletes to walk the planet. With this in mind, the Saints deserve praise for delivering a beating on a division foe like the Carolina Panthers. It goes without saying that Alontae Taylor will not record three sacks every game, but could this be a sign that New Orleans is better than most people think? New Orleans was widely considered one of the league’s weaker rosters entering the season, but could this team make a play for the division?
While it is possible, the Saints are still probably the second- or third-best team in the NFC South. Baker Mayfield picked up right where he left off last year, tossing four touchdowns in a comfortable win over the Washington Commanders. Kirk Cousins had a disappointing debut with the Atlanta Falcons, but he should improve as he knocks off the rust from his Achilles injury. New Orleans still has an uphill battle to make the playoffs, but their future is brighter than ever before.
