Saints Find Their Groove Through Chemistry, Not Just X’s and O’s
The New Orleans Saints may not be playoff-bound, but don’t tell them the season’s over. Despite a 5-10 record and postseason hopes officially off the table, the team is riding a three-game win streak - and more importantly, a wave of belief, camaraderie, and resilience that’s been building since the offseason.
It didn’t start with a game plan or a new scheme. It started with paintball.
Then golf. Then a day of community service.
These weren’t just field trip-style distractions - they were intentional moves by first-year head coach Kellen Moore to build something deeper: trust, chemistry, and connection.
Tight end Juwan Johnson, sporting a holiday sweater after Sunday’s win over the Jets, summed it up best: “When you get to the top, like December, it really pays off. You really know who you’re going to war with.”
The Saints aren’t at the top of the standings, but they’re playing like a team that’s found its identity - and more importantly, each other.
A Locker Room That Stayed Together
Even when the Saints were 1-8, the energy inside the locker room didn’t fracture. That’s rare.
Losing streaks test everything - leadership, accountability, belief. But according to Johnson, this group never turned on itself.
No finger-pointing. No locker room drama.
Just a group of guys committed to figuring it out together.
“This is the best locker room I’ve ever had,” said Johnson, now in his sixth NFL season.
That kind of unity doesn’t happen by accident. Moore, who took over the reins this year, made it a priority from day one.
During his interview with GM Mickey Loomis, Moore pitched the idea of building team chemistry through off-field bonding. Not just lip service - real, intentional time away from football to create a foundation.
He even suggested moving a portion of training camp to Southern California, giving the team a chance to gel in a different environment. That kind of forward-thinking approach resonated with Loomis - and eventually, with the locker room.
“It’s easy to talk about, ‘Hey, we need to have great team chemistry,’” Loomis said before the season. “No kidding.
Okay, how do you create that? What do you do to create that?”
Moore had answers. And now, in December, we’re seeing the results.
When the Season Gets Long, the Bonds Matter
Defensive end Chris Rumph put it plainly: “All that bonding and getting to know each other, this is the time when everybody’s tired and the season is long. That’s when you fall back on all the things you did in the offseason.”
It’s not just about liking your teammates. It’s about trusting them.
When the grind of the season wears on you - mentally, physically - those relationships become the glue. And the Saints have leaned on that glue as the losses piled up early.
Now, they’re leaning into it again - this time, with wins to show for it.
After Sunday’s dominant performance against the Jets, Moore handed out 13 game balls in the locker room. Eight went to the defense, four to the offense, and one to the kicker. It was a moment of celebration, but also a reflection of a team that’s still all in, even with no playoff berth at the end of the tunnel.
Stats That Tell the Story
Let’s talk numbers for a moment - because even in a season that won’t end in January football, there are some telling metrics coming out of this recent stretch:
- 13: That’s how many game balls Moore handed out after the Jets win, a sign of just how many players stepped up. The defense led the charge with eight.
- 32: Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough threw 32 passes in the first half - tied with Joe Burrow for the most in any first half this season.
He finished with 49 attempts, tied for the 11th-most in a game this year.
- 25%: The Saints’ pass rush only generated pressure on a quarter of the Jets’ dropbacks - the seventh-lowest rate of the week. But when they did get home, they made it count: 8 of their 11 pressures turned into sacks.
That’s elite efficiency. Their 8 sacks were the fourth-most by any team this season.
Still Playing With Purpose
Taysom Hill, one of the team’s emotional leaders, captured the vibe: “God, it’s a fun environment to be in. We all know the postseason stuff is off the table, but everyone’s still cherishing every opportunity we get, and I think that’s pretty unique and special.”
That’s the kind of culture Moore set out to build - one where effort and energy don’t depend on standings or scoreboard. It’s about the work, the relationships, and the pride of doing it right.
So no, paintball didn’t beat the Bucs. A trip to the driving range didn’t take down the Panthers.
And a bowling alley didn’t sack Zach Wilson eight times. But those moments laid the groundwork for a team that’s still fighting, still believing, and still playing for each other.
And in a league where the margins are razor-thin and locker rooms can fracture fast, that’s no small win.