Tyler Shough Sparks Saints' Second Straight Upset, Turns NFC South Into a Free-For-All
The New Orleans Saints are 4-10, but don’t let that record fool you - they’ve become the chaos agents of the NFC South.
For the second straight week, the Saints threw a wrench into the division race. After toppling the Bucs in Week 14, New Orleans followed it up with another upset - this time against the Carolina Panthers, who came into the Caesars Superdome with a golden opportunity to take control of the division. Instead, they walked out stunned, courtesy of a breakout performance from rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
Shough’s Coming-of-Age Moment
Tyler Shough is starting to look more and more like a guy who belongs. After earning his first career win as a starter against these same Panthers back on Nov. 9, and flashing his dual-threat ability with two rushing touchdowns in last week’s win over Tampa Bay, Shough delivered his most complete NFL performance to date on Sunday.
Down 17-10 and needing a spark, Shough engineered a poised, confident drive that ended with a laser to Chris Olave in the end zone - a throw that not only tied the game but also woke up a Superdome crowd that had been waiting for something to cheer about. It was a moment that felt bigger than the game itself. For a team that’s been searching for answers all season, Shough’s growth is starting to feel like one.
Then, with the game on the line, Shough did it again. After the Saints’ defense came up big with a crucial stop, the rookie calmly moved the offense into field goal range, setting up kicker Charlie Smyth for a 47-yard go-ahead kick. Smyth nailed it, and the Saints walked away with a 20-17 win - their second straight victory over a division rival.
Shough’s performance also earned him a spot in the Saints' record books. He tied Archie Manning’s franchise rookie record for most touchdown passes by a first-year quarterback - a milestone that speaks volumes about how far he’s come in a short span.
NFC South: Wide Open, Again
With this loss, Carolina falls back to .500 and tumbles out of the provisional playoff picture - a tough pill to swallow for a team that had a clear path to the postseason just a week ago. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay, despite their own recent struggles, finds itself back atop the NFC South standings.
And the drama is far from over. The Panthers and Buccaneers are set to face each other twice in the final three weeks of the regular season. Those matchups will likely decide not just the division champion, but who gets a ticket to the playoffs.
As for the Saints? They’re still mathematically out of the race, but they’ve made it clear they’re not going quietly. With Tyler Shough growing in confidence and command, New Orleans has suddenly become the team no one in the NFC South wants to see on their schedule.
The Saints might not be playing for the postseason, but they’re playing spoiler - and doing it with style.