CHARLOTTE — Everything started the way the Panthers wanted.

It didn't stay that way.

And on a day when the run game was finally slowed down, they lacked answers.

The Saints beat the Panthers 17-7 Sunday at Bank of America Stadium, dropping the Panthers to 5-5 on the season.

It might have been a surprise after last week's Carolina win at Green Bay, but the Saints (2-8) had a simple plan and executed it.

New Orleans was committed to not letting Rico Dowdle destroy them, and they were largely successful.

He finished with just 53 yards rushing on 18 carries, and without the kind of performance they had come to expect from him, the offense was never in rhythm as a result.

Bryce Young was 17-of-25 for 124 yards with an interception and a fumble.

The first drive of the game was textbook, a classic 12-play, grind-the-clock job, which featured Dowdle's 5-yard touchdown (and no pumps).

They followed by gaining one first down on their next five possessions, and went three-and-out on four straight.

That allowed the Saints to hang around, and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough hit enough plays to keep them in the game.

That included passes of 62 and 52 yards.

The long one was a touchdown to Chris Olave, which ended with cornerback Jaycee Horn on the ground. Horn argued for offensive pass interference, to no avail.

But there were mistakes throughout for the Panthers, including one that negated a good break.

Ryan Fitzgerald had a 48-yard field goal blocked, but the ball went forward after it bounced off Ikem Ekwonu's helmet. But three plays later, a fumbled handoff attempt from Young to Jimmy Horn Jr. gave the ball right back to the Saints.

And when the defense made plays, the offense gave it back again.

Nic Scourton's fourth-down sack was the kind of momentum-changer they needed, but two plays later, Young was picked off by Alontae Taylor.

The Panthers were also plagued with injuries, with Trevin Wallace leaving with a shoulder, and Princely Umanmielen in and out of the game with a groin issue.