Chris Olave keeps giving the Saints a dependable answer, and Sunday’s overtime win over Cleveland showed why that matters for the way New Orleans should ease Jordyn Tyson into the offense.
Olave finished with seven catches for 98 yards in the Saints’ 23-22 victory on Sunday, Nov. 8, and that production pushed him past Lance Moore for seventh on the franchise’s career receptions list with 347. But the bigger takeaway wasn’t the milestone. It was how often Tyler Shough could lean on him when the game tightened up.
The most important grab came in the fourth quarter with New Orleans down 13-9. Olave turned a 36-yard catch into the kind of drive the Saints need more of, and that series ended with Audric Estimé’s go-ahead touchdown. Shough was sharp on that possession, going 4 of 5 for 53 yards, and the sequence showed what happens when the quarterback has a receiver he can trust for a chunk play while still leaving room for the rest of the offense to finish the job.
That’s the model Kellen Moore should keep in mind as he works Tyson into the mix. The rookie made his NFL debut after missing the first seven games with a hamstring injury and finished with four catches for 30 yards.
His first reception ended with a lost fumble near the goal line, a rough start for the No. 8 overall pick, but the Saints kept going back to him. He got three more catches after that, and that matters.
It gave him a chance to start building timing and trust with Shough instead of being buried after one mistake.
Barion Brown also flashed in the game, giving New Orleans a gain of more than 50 yards, and that speed adds another layer for defenses to worry about. With Brown stretching the field and Olave doing what he already does best, Tyson can be brought along with simpler, cleaner opportunities.
Against Carolina, the Saints should look for early throws that let Tyson catch the ball in stride. A crossing route underneath Olave makes sense.
If a defender follows Olave downfield, Shough can take the shorter option and let Tyson work after the catch. That kind of usage gives the rookie real responsibility without forcing the offense to revolve around him.
New Orleans now turns to Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 15, with a noon Central kickoff at Caesars Superdome. The Saints are 3-5 after picking up their first home win of the season, and they’ll get a division game in the same building.
What I’d watch is third-and-5, especially after Olave has already made a couple of catches. If Carolina starts shading help his way, does Shough have another throw he trusts?
A 6-yard completion to Tyson in that spot feels more useful than a deep shot designed only to create a rookie highlight. Keep making defenses pay for overcommitting to Olave, and the Saints will be in better shape the next time Shough needs his veteran target in a late-game spot.
In Other News...
Saints Run Game Still Has One Problem Fans Shouldn't Ignore
The Saints have spent the last stretch trying to patch up a rushing attack that needed more than a quick fix, and the front office has already shown it is willing to make changes to get there. Cutting Kendre Miller, firing run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti and bringing in Audric Estime were all part of the effort to stabilize a ground game that has been too uneven for comfort.
Estime gave the offense a lift against the Browns, helping New Orleans pile up 160 rushing yards, but the bigger issue has not gone away. The Saints still have not found steady production beyond his carries, and until that changes, the run game will remain more promise than solution. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Will Debate
The Saints place in the NFC South has made their trade deadline posture harder to read than most rebuilding teams. They are tied for first, but the front office is still operating with the long view in mind, and the Davon Godchaux deal already showed this could be a roster-shaping week rather than a stand-pat one. With New Orleans in the middle of a rebuild, every move has to balance the present standings against the need to keep building for later.
That is why the next few days could bring more interest in veterans who might draw real market attention. Chase Young, Carl Granderson and Devaughn Vele are among the names other teams could circle, but the Saints are also trying to protect their stockpile of draft capital as much as possible. The tension is obvious: if the offers are strong enough, New Orleans could keep reshaping the roster, but it does not want to sacrifice the picks it needs to keep the rebuild moving. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Have A Chance To Tighten Their NFC South Grip Sunday
The Saints head into Sundays home game against Carolina with a little more room to breathe after their latest win, but not enough to get comfortable. New Orleans and the Panthers are tied atop the NFC South heading into Week 10, and the division picture could shift quickly with the Saints hosting a Carolina team that has dropped three straight. It is the kind of midseason matchup that can either reinforce a lead or turn a race back into a scramble.
A big part of New Orleans edge has been the pressure up front, where Chase Young has become a major factor in the pass rush. He is already among the league leaders in sacks and has given the Saints a disruptive presence they can lean on as they try to keep control of the division race. Against a Panthers team looking to stop its skid, the Saints will have a chance to make another statement without needing to leave the comfort of home. [Read more 🡒]