Why Saints Fans Are Watching the Patriots - and Hoping for a Tyler Shough Breakout in 2026
When you look at what the New England Patriots have done this season, it’s hard not to imagine a version of that story playing out in New Orleans. The Patriots are in the AFC Championship Game, led by second-year quarterback Drake Maye - and for Saints fans, that’s the dream scenario. Swap out Maye for Tyler Shough, and you’ve got a potential blueprint for what the Saints hope 2026 could look like.
Now, let’s be clear: there are plenty of differences between the two teams, but the biggest common thread - and the most important one - is the quarterback. Maye and Shough were both rookies in 2025.
Maye got the nod as the Patriots’ full-time starter this season, and Shough is poised to do the same in New Orleans in 2026. That’s where the comparisons begin - and where Saints fans start to hope.
The Importance of a Second-Year Leap
We’ve seen it before: young quarterbacks making major strides in Year 2. Spencer Rattler made a solid jump last season, and if Shough can follow that trajectory - or even exceed it - the Saints are suddenly a team to watch.
The good news? Shough is starting from a stronger foundation than Rattler did.
That means the leap could yield even greater results.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Drake Maye didn’t just improve - he exploded.
Second-team All-Pro, MVP finalist, and the driving force behind a Patriots team that’s one win away from the Super Bowl. That kind of leap is rare, and expecting Shough to replicate it is asking a lot.
Still, if he comes even close, the Saints could be in the playoff mix - and maybe more.
A breakout season from Shough would mean the offense is humming. Combine that with a defense that already showed signs of growth in 2025, and you’ve got a formula Saints fans haven’t seen in years: balance, momentum, and legitimate NFC contention.
Coaching and Culture: A Key Difference
Of course, not everything lines up between the Saints and Patriots. One of the biggest differences?
Mike Vrabel. The Patriots brought him in and immediately saw a culture shift.
He’s been a clear catalyst for their turnaround - a leader who’s rallied the locker room and set a new tone in Foxborough.
That’s not happening in New Orleans. Kellen Moore is still at the helm, and while he has room to grow and evolve as a head coach, he’s not the new voice in the building.
The Saints won’t get the same kind of jolt the Patriots did from a leadership change. That doesn’t mean they can’t improve - but it does mean the path is different.
Will the Saints Be Aggressive Enough?
Another big factor in New England’s rise? Free agency.
The Patriots didn’t just dip their toes in - they dove in headfirst. Stefon Diggs, Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry - all high-impact, high-cost additions.
That kind of spending spree made it clear they were going all-in around their young quarterback.
The Saints? They’ll get under the cap, no doubt.
But will they go after top-tier free agents with the same aggression? That’s still up in the air.
Realistically, New Orleans might make one big splash - not four. It’s a different financial strategy, and it could mean a different ceiling in 2026.
The Bottom Line
The Patriots’ path from rebuilding to championship contender in one season is the kind of turnaround every team dreams about - and right now, it’s the North Star for the Saints. Tyler Shough is the key. If he takes that Year 2 leap, if the offense clicks, and if the defense continues its upward trend, New Orleans has a shot to make some noise in the NFC.
It won’t be easy. The Saints don’t have a Vrabel-sized spark at head coach, and they’re unlikely to match New England’s free agency blitz.
But if Shough rises, the rest of the roster may just rise with him. And if that happens, 2026 could be the start of something special in New Orleans.