The Saints won’t be playing football in January, but don’t let that fool you - they’re finishing 2025 with something far more valuable than a playoff spot: momentum and a potential franchise quarterback.
Rookie Tyler Shough had his breakout moment on Sunday, throwing for over 300 yards for the first time in his young NFL career as New Orleans rolled past the Jets, 29-6. It was the Saints’ third straight win, and more importantly, another strong performance from a quarterback who’s starting to look like the centerpiece of their future plans.
Shough, a second-round pick, went 32-of-49 for 308 yards and a touchdown - a stat line that doesn’t just look good on paper, it looked even better on the field. He was poised, decisive, and in rhythm with his receivers, especially Chris Olave.
The chemistry between those two has been steadily building, and on Sunday, it was on full display. Olave hauled in 10 catches for 148 yards, including a late 38-yard touchdown that came courtesy of a trick-play pass from Taysom Hill.
Speaking of Hill, the Saints used him in that classic Swiss Army knife role, and it paid dividends. He touched the ball 16 times for 78 yards and added that fourth-quarter touchdown toss to Olave. Tight end Juwan Johnson also stepped up, catching eight passes for 89 yards, giving Shough a reliable target in the middle of the field and helping keep the chains moving.
But it wasn’t just the offense doing work. The Saints’ pass rush had one of its most dominant outings of the season, sacking Jets quarterback Brady Cook seven times. Yes, the Jets offense has been stuck in neutral for much of the year, but seven sacks is seven sacks - and for a defense that’s had its ups and downs, that kind of pressure is a welcome sign of life.
Now sitting at 4-3 since Shough took over the starting job, the Saints have two road games left - at Tennessee and at Atlanta. Neither opponent is unbeatable, and if New Orleans can close the year on a five-game winning streak, a 7-10 finish suddenly looks a lot more respectable than anyone expected back in September.
For head coach Kellen Moore, that’s a solid foundation to build on heading into Year 2. The Saints may not be playoff-bound, but they’re trending in the right direction - and that’s no small thing in a league where momentum can carry over fast.
As for the Jets, the search for silver linings continues. First-year head coach Aaron Glenn will be looking for any signs of progress over the final two weeks, but Sunday was another reminder of how far this team still has to go.