Kellen Moore hopes win over Panthers can build momentum for Saints

Even in a year that won't bear any meaningful fruit for the New Orleans Saints, Sunday's 17-7 victory over the Carolina Panthers was still important. 

In the context of the here and now, it was a complete game from a team that has struggled to play complimentary football for much of 2025. It was also a victory that gives the team some momentum going into a bye week before a rivalry game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans on Nov. 23. 

In the grand scheme of things, however, it was a win that showed that everyone in the organization is still standing with first-year head coach Kellen Moore despite a 2-8 record. 

Kellen Moore hopes Saints can build off big win

"I felt like it was one of our cleaner games," Moore said in a news conference on Monday. "Protecting the football, creating turnovers, playing a physical game in all three phases. Hopefully something we can build on." 

Barring a miraculous turnaround, New Orleans won't be in the running for a playoff spot come January. But the Saints do have a relatively favorable schedule the rest of the way — the only team with a winning record at the time of writing that the Saints will play over the final seven games of 2025 is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Two games against the Falcons, a home rematch against the Panthers and tilts against the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans are all on tap to close out 2025. That is a favorable stretch for a team in dire need of momentum going into 2026. 

"I do think this game can build some momentum for us," Moore said. "We got a bunch of division games to end this year, obviously that will be an important part. (We're) traveling to some different places we should have a chance to compete (in)." 

It'd be easy and understandable to cast the Saints aside as a complete afterthought for the final eight weeks of the NFL season, but if Sunday proved anything, it's that on any given Sunday, anything can happen.