The Saints didn’t have much to feel good about after Sunday, but Chase Young gave them a reason to look twice.
In a game that needed a turning point, Young kept flashing exactly the kind of impact that makes him look like one of the few reliable pieces on New Orleans’ roster right now. He was disruptive from start to finish, and even when he didn’t finish the play with a sack, he was still forcing problems for the Steelers’ tackles. The performance only added to the sense that he’s quickly becoming a foundational player for the Saints and could be in line to become the highest paid player on the team very soon.
Young’s biggest moment came when he got to Rodgers on third down, a play that helped set up the Saints’ last possession. He skipped his usual celebration afterward and instead screamed toward the sideline, a reaction that seemed to signal how badly New Orleans needed something to flip the game. It never turned into the spark the Saints were chasing, but the rush itself had game-changing potential.
Carl Granderson also deserves a mention after extending his streak of 1.5 sacks to three straight games, but Young was the headline again. That’s become a familiar theme this season. He has been one of the league’s best pass rushers, and he continues to stand out as one of the few Saints the team can count on week after week.
There were a couple of other small bright spots in an otherwise rough offensive outing, starting with rookie Barion Brown. Brown entered Sunday with just one catch for five yards in 2026, but he turned in a much better showing with three receptions for 57 yards. His day included a 49-yard explosive play that led to the Saints’ first score.
Brown also made his presence felt in the return game with a 42-yard kick return, and that setup helped lead to the offense’s lone touchdown. Even with Jordyn Tyson’s hopeful return, Brown looks like he’ll keep carving out a role for Kellen Moore on offense and special teams.
Still, the biggest takeaway belonged to Young. He was dominant and relentless throughout the game, and with 1.5 sacks against the Steelers, he’s now on pace for 17 this season. That total would put him in Saints history, tying Pat Swilling and La’Roi Glover for the most sacks by one player in a single season.
In Other News...
Saints Paris Trip Could Mean More For New Orleans Than Fans Realize
State and local officials who went along with the Saints to Paris came home talking as much about economic development as football. The trip gave Louisiana leaders a chance to sit down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other executives, while also opening doors through business networking events aimed at deepening the states connection with France. Gov. Jeff Landry used the visit to advance those conversations, and the broader message was clear: the Saints overseas footprint can carry value well beyond the field.
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno also used the trip to strengthen a city-to-city relationship, meeting with Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grgoire and discussing ways to bring more French tourism to New Orleans. The exchange fits into a larger push to make the Saints a gateway for international attention, especially as officials look for practical ways to turn a rare team trip into longer-term ties. For now, the most interesting part may be what those conversations lead to back home. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Bye Week Feels Critical After Kellen Moores Latest Offensive Low
The bye week arrives with the Saints needing a reset, and the running game is right at the center of it. In the loss to Pittsburgh, New Orleans struggled to generate any traction on the ground while also getting gashed by the Steelers rushing attack, a combination that left the offense fighting uphill all afternoon. Injuries to key players such as Travis Etienne have only made it harder for the Saints to build any kind of rhythm, and the lack of stability has shown up in too many of their recent offensive drives.
Kellen Moore acknowledged after the game that the run game has been a problem, and the timing of the break could not be much better for a staff trying to piece things together. The Saints do not have the luxury of treating this as a minor issue, because the offense has become too inconsistent when it comes to staying ahead of the chains and keeping balance. The next few days will be about repairing that foundation, and for a team trying to stay afloat, what happens in the bye could shape what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Bye Week Puts Kellen Moore Under Real Pressure
The Saints bye week arrives with more than rest and repair on the agenda, because the conversation around Kellen Moore has shifted from frustration to real uncertainty. New Orleans has been stuck in a stretch of poor performance, and the lack of progress has started to put the head coachs standing under a brighter spotlight than anyone around the team would prefer at this point in the season.
Ownerships public frustration has only added to the noise, turning the off week into a potential pivot point for the franchise. If the Saints decide a change is coming, there is already a natural line of succession being discussed internally, but for now there has been no official move or announcement. The silence only makes the next few days feel even more consequential. [Read more 🡒]