Panthers play out of tune and stumble in 17-7 loss to Saints  

TROY HULL | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers safety Tre'von Moehrig pressures New Orleans quarterback Tyler Shough during an NFL game at Bank of America Stadium. The Saints won 17-7.

The Carolina Panthers seek harmony. 

To coach Dave Canales, music is a lifelong passion, revealing he plays “a little bit of piano, a little bit of drums and a tiny bit of guitar.” 

Canales learned to appreciate making music from his grandparents, who founded Mission Ebenezer Family Church in Carson, California, in 1959. Growing up, Canales “spent a lot of time” at church, listening to his grandfather play guitar and grandmother the organ. 

“We had all those instruments all the time at church,” he said Friday. “It’s part of our family history. We would just kind of tinker with different things.” 

Maybe, but the Panthers appeared out of rhythm in Sunday’s 17-7 loss to the New Orleans Saints. Canales summarized it as a combination of “missed opportunities across the board.” 

The beat was off. 

Big plays muffle Panthers 

Tre’von Moehrig wants to rock and roll. An aspiring guitarist who plans to start a heavy metal band next offseason, the Panthers’ safety didn’t play in time on the Saints’ first big play Sunday. 

The Saints’ offense entered Sunday ranked No. 29 in the NFL, averaging 287.1 yards per game. They compiled 388 yards against the Panthers (5-5). 

Leading 7-0 after running back Rico Dowdle capped the Panthers’ opening drive with a 5-yard touchdown run, the defense responded initially by forcing the Saints (2-8) into a third-and-12 play on their first series. 

Panthers rookie Nic Scourton, rushing from the near edge, failed to bring down Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, who scrambled and discovered delivered a 52-yard pass to Juwan Johnson. The Saints’ tight end ran behind Moehrig, who lost contain, leading to an early field goal. 

“We have to do a better job containing him and stay attached,” Canales said. “We did not get that done.”  

The Saints exploited the Panthers’ secondary again in the second quarter. Cornerback Jaycee Horn ran man-on-man with wide receiver Chris Olave, who took advantage of a falling Horn to convert a 62-yard touchdown pass, lifting the Saints to a 10-7 advantage. 

It proved to be the game-winning play. 

“Jaycee will be the first to tell you he could have made that play,” Canales said. “Give credit to the Saints, they came up with some big plays, some explosives and that’s an area we have to make sure and shore up. There were some great one-on-one opportunities that they took advantage of.  

“They just made their plays.” 

The Saints, who entered Sunday ranked No. 23 in rush defense at 129.4 yards per game, surrendered just 73 to the Panthers. Dowdle finished with 53 yards on 18 carries. Chuba Hubbard compiled 14 yards on three attempts. 

“I’m sure we have complements to our run game and they did a fantastic job of taking care of it,” Canales said. “I have to make sure we put our heads together and gameplan to make sure we have answers when the other team makes it difficult to run the ball.”  

Tre’von Moehrig shreds NFL label 

In aiming to bolster the Carolina’s historically poor defense from 2024, general manager Dan Morgan targeted Moehrig, one of the league’s top-tackling safeties, to a three-year, $51 million free-agent contract last offseason. Moehrig’s interest in playing the guitar helped him from an early bond with Canales.

“I learned that about Tre early on, with some of the things he’s interested in,” Canales said. “I’m mostly interested in the rock band he’s creating in the secondary.”

Through 10 games, Moehrig compiled 58 tackles, one sack and an interception in last week’s upset win at Green Bay. Along with five tackles and two passes defended, Moehrig earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, becoming the franchise’s first safety to win the award since Ramon Harper in 2014. 

On Sunday, Moehrig collected seven tackles, but he did not sing anyone’s praises. He declined comment, pointing to fresh stitches on his upper lip.

Moehrig learned to appreciate heavy metal music in high school by listening to tunes his coaches at Smithson Valley (Texas) High played during practices and weight-lifting sessions. 
“That’s all they played,” Moehrig told “Good Morning Football” on Thursday. “And I gew up on Guitar Hero.” 

His joy in the video music game led to a broader interest in learning to play the “songs I was playing” for real. 

“I love guitar,” Moehrig said. “It’s something I picked up a few years ago in the offseason,”    

Moehrig ia focused on perfecting the guitar parts of the hard-pounding song, “One,” by Metallica. 

“That’s kind of one of my favorites,” he said. “We’re going to try and get (a band) going this offseason.” 

Before then, Moehrig will need to work to develop more harmony in Charlotte. 

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