A Wild Day in Louisiana Sports: Saints Rally Falls Short, Coaching Carousel Spins
Sunday was the kind of day that reminds you just how unpredictable-and chaotic-sports can be in Louisiana. From the Superdome to the college gridirons, the headlines kept coming, and the storylines were anything but dull.
Let’s start with the New Orleans Saints, who nearly pulled off a second-half comeback that would've ranked among their gutsiest of the season. Down 16-0 at the half to the Miami Dolphins, the Saints finally found some offensive rhythm and clawed their way back into it.
But like so many times this season, the rally came up just short. A 21-17 loss dropped them to 2-10, and while the fight was there, the finish was not.
Still, there were moments that turned heads-none bigger than the NFL debut of Charlie Smyth, a kicker from Northern Ireland who made a splash in his first-ever field goal attempt. Smyth drilled a 56-yarder like he’s been doing it his whole life, then followed it up with a perfectly executed onside kick that gave the Saints a chance late. The play brought back memories of Thomas Morstead’s legendary “Ambush” onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV-same stadium, same kind of magic.
The ball ended up in the hands of wide receiver Devaughn Vele, who had himself a breakout game. Vele, acquired in a quiet August trade with Denver, had been more of a footnote than a feature in the Saints’ offense this season.
But on Sunday, he looked like a go-to guy, catching eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. That’s nearly his entire season total in one afternoon.
It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder why he’s been under the radar for so long.
Unfortunately for the Saints, the final drive stalled on a fourth-and-1 at the Dolphins’ 36-yard line. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore summed it up best: “It was an unfortunate ending.” And it was.
But the Saints weren’t the only ones dealing with dramatic endings-or new beginnings.
In Baton Rouge, LSU made a major splash by naming Lane Kiffin its next head football coach. Kiffin’s move from Ole Miss to LSU had been rumored, but it became official Sunday.
He reportedly wanted to stick around and coach the Rebels through a potential College Football Playoff run, but Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter wasn’t on board with that plan. Just like that, one of the most colorful coaches in college football is heading to Death Valley.
Meanwhile, Tulane is also heading into coaching transition territory. Jon Sumrall announced he’s taking the Florida job, but unlike Kiffin, he’ll be allowed to finish what he started-at least for now. Tulane plays North Texas this Saturday for the American Athletic Conference championship, and if the Green Wave win, Sumrall will coach them into the postseason.
Tulane AD David Harris said the decision to let Sumrall stay was about the players. “We just believe that it's the right thing to do for our student-athletes,” Harris said. “We are just really appreciative that he has the love and concern for his players first and foremost in his mind, that he wants to help them finish the right way.”
Coaching changes are always emotional, and fan bases at Ole Miss and Tulane are already split over whether their departing coaches should be allowed to stick around. But for both programs, the future is officially in motion.
Back in Miami, the Saints’ defense had its own standout moment-courtesy of Cam Jordan. The 36-year-old defensive end looked like a man on a mission, sacking Tua Tagovailoa twice and bringing his season total to 6.5.
That’s his highest since 2022 and a reminder that Jordan still has gas in the tank. But as he said postgame, he’d trade the stats for wins.
“We are a team that keeps fighting,” Jordan said. “When you are fighting an uphill battle, eventually you have to reach the top of the hill. We are taking shots and we are swinging, and you just wish they would fall in our favor.”
Right now, the only thing falling in the Saints’ favor is their draft position. Thanks to the Jets pulling off an upset over the Falcons, New Orleans now holds the No. 2 overall pick. That’s not the kind of leaderboard you want to be climbing, but it’s reality for a team that’s still searching for answers.
Next up? A trip back to Florida, this time to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs have won three straight against the Saints and are aiming to make it four in a row for the first time in series history. For New Orleans, pulling off an upset might sound far-fetched-but then again, so did Charlie Smyth hitting a 56-yarder and Devaughn Vele turning into a WR1 overnight.
In a season full of twists, what’s one more?