Saints’ Late-Season Surge Shows Kellen Moore and Kelvin Banks Jr. Are Building Something Real in New Orleans
Three weeks ago, the Saints were buried in the standings and buried in doubt. A 1-8 start had fans wondering if the Kellen Moore experiment was already on life support.
But heading into Week 17, New Orleans is riding a three-game win streak, and there’s a very different energy in the building. The record may still read 5-10, but this team is playing like it has something to say - and it starts with a head coach who adapted on the fly and a rookie left tackle who’s already playing like a 10-year vet.
Kellen Moore’s Pivot: From Playbook Wizard to Culture Builder
When Kellen Moore took the reins in New Orleans, the buzz was all about his offensive mind. The former Cowboys and Eagles coordinator had a reputation for creative play design and, at times, an overly aggressive air attack. But this season, Moore’s shown something more valuable than a flashy scheme - he’s shown the ability to adjust.
After Derek Carr retired and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough was thrown into the fire midseason, Moore didn’t try to force-feed his system. He recalibrated.
He simplified reads, leaned into heavy personnel, and - most importantly - built the offense around the offensive line. That’s not the kind of move that makes headlines, but it’s the kind of move that wins respect in the locker room.
In the process, Moore may have discovered the foundation for his entire rebuild.
Kelvin Banks Jr.: Rookie in Name Only
You don’t spend a top-10 pick on an offensive tackle unless you believe he can anchor your line for the next decade. So far, Kelvin Banks Jr. is delivering exactly what the Saints hoped for - and maybe even more.
Week after week, Banks has been left on an island against top-tier edge rushers, and he’s held his own. That kind of trust from a coaching staff doesn’t come easy, especially for a rookie. But Banks has earned it with consistent technique, elite footwork, and a motor that doesn’t quit.
In Moore’s system, the left tackle isn’t just a pass protector - he’s a tone-setter. Banks’ ability to get out in space has opened up the screen game and allowed the Saints to lean into outside zone runs that were nonexistent early in the year. He’s not just holding the line - he’s expanding the playbook.
“Kelvin is phenomenal,” Moore said this week. “His work ethic is awesome.
His eagerness and willingness to just learn and grow is really special. Kelvin is a really humble person.”
That humility is showing up in his play - and it’s allowing Moore to build an offense that’s more physical, more balanced, and more sustainable.
Week 17: More Than a Footnote
This Sunday’s matchup in Nashville might not carry playoff implications, but it matters - a lot.
For Moore, it’s a chance to prove that this three-game streak isn’t a fluke. For Shough, it’s another opportunity to show he can command an NFL offense.
And for Banks, it’s a measuring stick. He’ll face off against Jeffery Simmons and a rugged Titans front - a real test of how far he’s come and how high his ceiling might be.
A win would give the Saints their fourth straight and set up a chance to close the season on a five-game heater. That may not erase the rough start, but it changes the narrative heading into 2026.
It turns a “rebuild” into a “retool.” It gives Moore a foundation to build on - and maybe even a quarterback to build with.
The Blueprint Is Taking Shape
Let’s call it like it is: Kellen Moore’s first season in New Orleans didn’t start the way anyone hoped. But what we’re seeing now is what happens when a coach doesn’t panic - when he leans into his personnel, trusts his rookies, and builds from the inside out.
Kelvin Banks is already the floor of this offense - the steady presence everything else is built on. Moore is the ceiling - the play-caller and leader whose vision is starting to take shape.
And Tyler Shough? He might just be the door swinging open to a new era in Saints football.
Come Sunday, don’t be surprised if Moore dials up some deep shots behind Banks’ rock-solid protection. This team is no longer playing for pride - they’re playing to prove that the future is already here.