The Saints walked into Sunday with a run game that had become an easy target. They walked out of their overtime win over Cleveland with Audric Estime suddenly at the center of the conversation.
New Orleans beat the Browns 23-22 in overtime, and the newly claimed back did the heavy lifting. Estime finished with 15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown, then added one catch for five yards. He also led the Saints with 16 touches, topping Alvin Kamara’s nine.
It was a sharp turn for a player who was cut loose by Cleveland last week and then claimed on waivers by New Orleans to help a depleted backfield. Estime had already played for the Saints in 2025, so there was no learning curve with Kellen Moore’s playbook. That familiarity put him in position to jump right into a major role.
He made the most of it. Estime punched in a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and gave New Orleans a much-needed spark on the ground. For at least one week, he helped quiet the criticism that had been following the Saints’ rushing attack.
There’s still more movement possible behind him. Rookie CJ Donaldson, who is dealing with a shoulder injury, could be back next week, and Travis Etienne, sidelined with a hamstring issue, might be close to returning from IR. Even so, Estime may be sitting at the top of the depth chart for now as the Saints head toward a Week 10 matchup with the Panthers.
In Other News...
Drew Brees Could Be In Line For A Huge NFL TV Role
Drew Brees may be one of the more intriguing names to watch as the NFL broadcasting carousel starts to turn. With Troy Aikmans ESPN Monday Night Football contract reportedly nearing its end without a renewal offer, the networks top booth is suddenly a topic again, and Brees has already made clear he would be interested in stepping into that kind of spotlight.
For Saints fans, it would be a notable next chapter for one of the franchises most recognizable figures, even if he is still working on Foxs No. 3 team for now. A move to Monday Night Football would be a clear step up in visibility and prestige, and Brees appears to see it that way as well, leaving his name in the mix as ESPN weighs its options. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Rookies Costly Mistake Led To A Bigger Moment Late
Barion Browns afternoon against the Browns had the kind of early miscue that can stick with a rookie return man. After reversing field twice on a punt return, the Saints receiver coughed up the ball, a mistake that could have sent a young player into the background for the rest of the game. Instead, quarterback Tyler Shough made a point of encouraging Brown on the sideline, keeping the moment from defining the day.
Browns response mattered even more. He stayed involved on special teams and later delivered a pair of punt returns that gave New Orleans a much better field position, including one that helped set up a go-ahead touchdown. For a rookie still learning the speed and pressure of the league, it was a reminder that one mistake does not have to be the last word. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Have A Real NFC South Opening They Cant Waste
The overtime win over Cleveland gave the Saints a little lift, but it also left them with the same basic reality they have carried into Week 10: at 3-5, there is still a path back into the NFC South race if they can start stacking results. Sundays meeting with Carolina matters for more than just the standings, because the Panthers are sitting at 3-5 too, which gives New Orleans a chance to turn a modest rebound into something more meaningful.
For a team trying to build momentum, this is the kind of game that can change the mood around a season. The Saints will have to handle Carolinas playmakers on defense and avoid letting a winnable division matchup slip away, because opportunities like this do not come around often in a crowded NFC South. [Read more 🡒]