- New England Patriots. Tragedy strikes in Gillette Stadium: Patriots fan fatally punched by Dolphins er
- Cleveland Browns. Kareem Hunt to return to Browns? List of available FA RBs amid Nick Chubb injury
In a Monday Night Football showdown that initially appeared rather uneventful on the field, the real drama unfolded in the tunnel beneath Bank of America Stadium.
New Orleans Saints' wide receiver, Michael Thomas, and Carolina Panthers' defensive lineman, Derrick Brown, had a heated exchange that nearly escalated into a physical altercation outside the Saints'locker room.
Video goes viral on social media
A video shared on social media captured the intense moment as Thomas and Brown exchanged words while making their way to their respective locker rooms after the game.
Thomas, seemingly celebrating the Saints' 20-17 victory, appeared to say something while looking back towards the tunnel's entrance, where Brown was following closely behind.
The tension reached its peak when Brown charged toward Thomas, seemingly ready to engage in a physical confrontation. Fortunately, a vigilant member of Carolina's staff intervened, preventing a full-blown altercation.
Thomas took to X to clarify the situation claiming he was being "set up" and he just wanted to "do my dance".
Brown's frustrations after 0-2 start
The incident, initially reported by Kyle Bailey of WFNZ, added a spicy twist to an otherwise low-scoring affair. The Saints emerged victorious, moving to a 2-0 record early in the season, while the Panthers found themselves at 0-2, facing unexpected challenges.
For Michael Thomas, despite the post-game fireworks, he had a productive night on the field, amassing seven receptions for 55 yards. However, he has yet to find the end zone in the first two games of the season.
On the other hand, it's been a frustrating start for Derrick Brown and the Panthers, who had high hopes with the arrival of new head coach Frank Reich and rookie quarterback Bryce Young.
Already two games behind in the division race, the Panthers are eager to bounce back and regain their footing as they prepare for a road game against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday.
The Saints and the Panthers are scheduled to meet again on December 10 in New Orleans as part of Week 14 of the NFL season.