CHARLOTTE — The Panthers' defense was on the field, as they were most of the day, waiting for action to resume after the two-minute warning. The game was nearing its end, the Panthers trailing the Saints, on the precipice of falling back to .500 at 5-5, and 1-1 in the division.

Jaycee Horn stood in the red zone, where the Saints had worked their way to, essentially icing their second win of the season and the Panthers' fifth loss. Horn crouched down, his head hung as he punched the ground with both fists, a rare negative demonstrative moment from the corner.

He was metaphorically—and somewhat literally—beating himself up, shouldering the 17-7 loss.

"That's what the game came down to, two big plays," Horn said after the loss, of what he was thinking about why isolating himself.

The two big plays Horn was referring to were both of the Saints' touchdowns on the day: a 62-yarder from rookie quarterback Tyler Shough to Chris Olave down the right sideline in the second quarter, and a 30-yard catch and run from tight end Juwan Johnson in the fourth quarter.

"I think we did a good job limiting everything else," Horn continued. "We take away those two big plays, they really don't, they don't get nothing on offense."

The 62-yard touchdown to Olave drew questions about whether or not it should have been offensive pass interference. At least live, it seemed the Saints' receiver had made a push. Horn thought the same in the moment, but also acknowledged that the Panthers' game management coordinator, George Li, had recently provided data showing that the league was reducing the number of OPIs being called.

"So I've got to do a better job of fighting through the contact and finishing the play," Horn concluded. "I can't expect the call right there. I just tried to flip; I was checking back shoulder, tried to flip—look for the ball when I flipped. He had his hand in my chest, but it was a good play by him. It was just an explosive play that I got to do better at covering."

On Johnson's 30-yard touchdown, the veteran tight end was wide open after Horn slipped and fell.

"I talked to the defense after the game and just told them don't lose their confidence," Horn shared. "We got to keep our mojo because they all played their ass off. I let them down today; two big plays that cost us the game. That's it. I feel like everybody else played good.

"I'm one of the leaders of this team. I'm one of the highest-paid guys on this team, and I've got to be better."

For those teammates, it was encouraging to hear their leader take ownership and responsibility. However, as far as linebacker Christian Rozeboom sees it, they win together, they lose together, and two plays do not a loss make.

"Jaycee taking ownership of that is, it's obviously impressive and a lot of respect for him, but there are 11 guys on the field, and there are plays that could have been made before that, plays that could have been made after that.

"Good, bad, or otherwise, there are 11 guys and a lot of plays in a football game, and you never really know which one kind of makes the difference until you watch the film. And obviously explosive plays the kind of things that stick out, but there's there's stuff all of us can be better at."

To Rozeboom's point, there were other explosive plays behind the two touchdowns. There was a 52-yard completion to Johnson on the Saints' first drive when Shough broke away from the blitz and found the tight end downfield. It was a game plan often employed against rookie quarterbacks, especially those making their second start—try to rattle them early and often. But the Louisville product evaded and took advantage of the light coverage downfield.

"It takes somebody out of coverage every time you blitz," explained nickel Chau Smith-Wade. "So you know whether it's a simulator pressure or all-out blitz, it leaves holes on the defense. "You just got to finish through with the sack."

Still, Horn knows he will go home tonight wearing the loss. And the Pro Bowler, who has been through a lot with this team since being drafted here in 2021, can't wait to get back on the field to redeem himself and make it up to his team.

"We just can't let this one loss—and know it feels like a shock because we've been playing so good—we can't let this one loss weigh on us," said Horn.

"I've been through this, but not for everybody, but that's when you have to be a leader and drag guys along and let them know everything we want is still out in front of us."

Then, he made a promise.

"I told them just keep their commitment, just keep playing, and I'm going to be better. I can't wait for next Sunday."