In a match devoid of much excitement, all the drama seemed to unfold after the match. The New Orleans Saints vanquished the Carolina Panthers 20-17 on Monday Night Football. This loss has been difficult for the Panthers to swallow. Looking at the scoreboard, the Saints are now 0-2, as great a start as can be. The Panthers are down 0-2, as terrible a start as can be. 

Players need to keep their emotions in check no matter the outcome of the game. But sometimes, because of the pressure of the game, their fans’ expectations, and their own expectations, emotions get the better of them.

On-field rivalry spills over into the locker room

The Saints’ victory was sealed by a catch by Chirs Olave, who was picked up by the team in the 2022 NFL Draft. Olave had played college football at Ohio State, and holds the school record for most career touchdown receptions at 35. Now he’s brought that same energy to the Saints.

However, the loss did not sit well with the Panthers. In a viral video tweet, Saints WR Michael Thomas can be seen walking down the tunnel below the Bank of America Stadium. He turned back and shouted something seemingly directed at no one. Then Panthers Defensive Tackle Derrick Brown, who had been picked up in the 2020 NFL Draft, emerged and chased down Thomas. The two got into a verbal spat before they had to be separated by Carolina staff.

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The post-game drama aside, Saints’ Michael Thomas had an eventful night on the field as well. He scored seven receptions for fifty-five yards. However, he has yet to score a touchdown after two games in the season. For Derrick Brown and the Panthers, it was a frustrating night. Their new Head Coach Frank Reich had reignited some hopes of a Panthers resurrection, but the scoreboard says otherwise. 

What caused all the post-match tension off-field? There are three theories that seek to explain what truly transpired between the two.

What really happened is still a mystery 

First, directly from the horse’s mouth. In a series of three cryptic posts, Thomas laughed off the incident on X (formerly Twitter). “They tried to set me up. They was playing good snoop dogg after I was just trying to do my dance.” It could be possible that he was just celebrating his win, and the Panthers got worked up after this insult to injury. 

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ESPN’s Katherine Terrell took to X to report what she heard from Saints coach Dennis Allen. Thomas was confused and walked through the Panthers’ team tunnel instead of his own to get back to the locker room, and some of the Carolina players took “offense” to this.

Nick Underhill, of the New Orleans Football, reported, “He was going to a checkup room and you have to go through that tunnel to get there (relax. Nothing to worry about). That’s it. He was where he was supposed to be.” Not a very satisfactory reason, but this is all we have to work with at the moment, till there is more clarity.

Derrick Brown would have done well to bring his rage to the field instead of the locker room. Perhaps the Panthers could have managed to clinch a victory then, instead of being bitter about their loss. The Panthers and Saints will meet again on December 10. Will the Panthers get their revenge?

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