The New Orleans Saints were the heavy betting favorites heading into Week 16, and the game showed you why.
The Saints dominated the Jets in all facets, notching season-highs in sacks and points in a 29-6 win. The result marked the Saints' first three-game winning streak since Weeks 15-17 of the 2022 season.
The Saints look to be heading in the right direction on a day with a lot of missing pieces and some legends putting on a show for ... maybe the last time?
With all that in mind, here are the stock up and stock down players after a fun day in the Dome.
STOCK UP
1. Cam's sack party
You get a sack. You get a sack. You get a sack. SACKS FOR EVERYBODY.
For at least a day that's what it felt like for the Saints, who took a battered and bruised Jets QB in Brady Cook to the turf eight times. Coming into the game the Saints had only accounted for 29 sacks all season. So what went right?
“Just the hard work, the practice that we put ourselves through. We put stress on our body in practice so we can come in and execute a gameplan," Jordan told me coming off the field after the game. "You know, something like this, you pop off early and you sort of create a sack party and everybody joins in.”
And that's what it was. Don't believe me, here's the list:
- Cam Jordan: 2 sacks
- Alontae Taylor: 1 sack
- Nathan Shepherd: 1 sack
- Chase Young: 1 sack
- Chris Rumph: 1 sack
- Isaiah Stalbird: 1 sack
- Jonah Williams: 1 sack
Shepherd's sack also generated a fumble that Young scooped up. It was as dominating of a defensive line performance as we've seen all season.
It was also another strong day for Cam, who notched his sacks on back-to-back plays in the second quarter. Those two sacks triggered two sets of incentives in his reworked contract that account for $800,000. Not a bad afternoon.
But it's clear to me that Cam still has something left in the tank. I mean, heck, he's leading the team in sacks this year, is always stout against the run and he's the example you want set for young players. He also had two QB hurries and 3 TFLs in the game. At this point I'd be surprised if he's not back, though it might come down to whether he's willing to sign another incentive-laden deal.
The interesting thing is we were in a similar scenario last year. Much like the home finale a year ago Cam had dozens of friends and family in the building, just in case.
2. Weapons go off
One of the bigger stories coming into the day was two more key injuries to offensive playmakers. It didn't mean the Saints were without weapons in the passing game, but it did emphasize their importance.
A week ago Chris Olave only had one catch in the first half. Well, it was obvious that there was going to be a concerted effort to get him involved today. Shough's first three passes of the game went Olave's well, as did a career high 16 targets.
"I think we've got to do everything we can to get him the ball, and that's my goal," QB Tyler Shough said. "We had great communication the whole week. He's one of our best players and he needs to get the ball."
There were some near misses, but Olave delivered with a career-best day as he rolled up 148 yards and a pair of touchdown grabs, the second of which came on a 38-yard pass from Taysom Hill late in the fourth quarter. It was a big moment for a player who battled through adversity, at one point considering retirement at just 24 years old, but ultimately came back with a slightly different play style and has set a new career best in catches (92), with his career high yardage mark well within range.
Still, Olave wasn't alone as he careens toward a potential contract extension. The guy the Saints already signed to a lucrative contract also delivered in Juwan Johnson, who hauled in 8 catches for 89 yards, a majority of which came in the first half. The result continued to build on what has been a career year for Johnson, ranking in the top 5 among tight ends in catches (70) and yards (773) on the year.
Last but not least, it was a beautiful sight to see Taysom get back to his full workload. It was clear from the jump that Kellen Moore intended to lean on Taysom, even after a fumble on the second offensive snap and the fourth time this season that the Saints have fumbled away their opening possession. Taysom ended up with 12 carries for a game-high 42 yards, 4 catches for 36 yards and a 38-yard touchdown pass. It was the type of creative usage that we just haven't really seen much of this year, with Hill's role largely being carved down to a short-yardage back. The performance allowed Taysom the ultimate career note, in that he is the ONLY player in the Super Bowl era to account for 1,000 yards as a passer, runner and receiver. You'd have to go back to leather helmet days to find a similar career stat line.
He should be a Hall of Famer at the end of the day simply because he's played the game like no one else does, or frankly can. If that's not what the Hall of Fame is about, I don't know what is. Still, regardless of whether the rest of the NFL understands what's made Taysom such a treat to watch over the better part of the last decade, Saints fans definitely do. If this was the last time, that's a heck of a way to go out.
There were contributions from up and down the roster, but at the end of the day teams need their stars to play like stars and the Saints got that in this one.
3. Charlie's big day
It wasn't exactly a mystery of what the Saints would be doing at kicker after the game-winner last week, but Charlie Smyth sure celebrated his new, 3-year contract in style.
Smyth hit five kicks from distances of 35, 49, 36, 50 and 39. Those makes tied the Saints' franchise record for the most in any game. The only blemish was a miss from 61 yards out at the end of the first half with the ball having more than enough distance but sailing wide left. That miss prevented a great day from turning into an epic day, but I still wouldn't be surprised if there's a Special Teams Player of the Week award in his near future.
What I will say is I've noticed that when Charlie runs into trouble, it's usually on the left hash. That's where he attempted his first kick of the day and it snuck just inside the left upright from 35 yards out. The kick from 61 was also on the left hash, as was the miss in Chicago, both of which missed to the left. He did nail a kick down the middle from the left hash later in the game against the Jets.
I mainly think it's more a product of his kick shape than anything else. Unlike Blake Grupe's straight kicks, Smyth has a bit of a natural draw that seems to work well when it's started on the right line. I think that angle just becomes more difficult when the ball is aligned to the left hash. Not something I expect to be an issue long-term, but something the Saints might consider if they ever get an opportunity to set up another game-winning opportunity.
LAGNIAPPE
You don't see too many 300-yard passing games in the NFL these days, so it's worth applauding the rookie Tyler Shough for his first -- and the first such day for a rookie QB in Saints history. The caveat is that it came on a day where the Saints clearly locked in on the passing attack and asked Shough to throw the ball 49 times despite playing with a lead the majority of the game. His 32 passing attempts in the first half were tied for the most in any half this season. ... Audric Estime only touched the ball 8 times, but he was able to roll up 36 yards on those (5 carries, 3 catches). He looks like the guy with the most juice, to me, and I'd love to see him featured more over the final two games. Evan Hull struggled to get things going with just 3 yards on his five carries. ... Jonas Sanker took down his third takeaway of the season, the most by a Saints rookie since Paulson Adebo in 2021. He continues to have a nose for the ball and looks like he has a bright future. ... Kellen Moore handed out 13 game balls after the win. Don't have anything else to add on that, it just felt notable. ... Isaiah Stalbird's third down hawk role (which is what I'm calling it) has really made an impact this season. He took down Brady Cook for one of the Saints 8 sacks on one of those reps, though there was no hurdle this time.
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STOCK DOWN
1. Red zone offense
My only true stock down isn't exactly new, and it's red zone futility.
The Saints had largely seemed to right the ship in this regard, finding the end zone on 75% of their red zone trips over the prior three games. Not so much in this one with an 0-for-3 red zone performance that created the record-tying Charlie Smyth day mentioned above.
What was frustrating to watch was none of those three possessions find their way near the 10 yard line. It's a lot easier to score in close and the Saints just couldn't get there. I'm also not convinced the issue was the lack of a run game, because when the Saints went to it with Audric Estime and Taysom Hill it was largely effective. The Saints were just a bit pass-happy in this game and I think that cost them down toward the goal line. In fairness, there was a perfect ball that would've been a pretty touchdown if not for an impressive play by Jets DB Qwan'Tez Stiggers.
Here are all the plays the Saints ran inside the Jets 25, for reference:
- From 23: Shough incomplete deep left (Hill)
- From 23: Shough incomplete short left (Estime)
- From 23: Shough short left, Tipton 6 ... FG
- From 25: Direct snap to Hill, +4
- From 21: Hull right tackle, no gain
- From 21: Shough sacked, -10 ... FG
- From 23: Shough short middle to Estime, +5
- From 18: Shough incomplete short left (Austin)
- From 18: Shough incomplete deep left (Olave) ... FG
- From 23: Shough deep right to Olave, +23TD
- From 20: Shough short middle to Tipton, +2
- From 18: Shough pass to Hill, penalty (holding/Simpkins), -10
A lot of incompletions and only one touch for Estime in that art of the field. Life in the red zone gets a lot easier when you're willing to commit to the run. That part of the game is still a work in progress. The Jets weren't good enough to make it hurt.
Related
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2. A high draft pick
This is more of an accounting than anything else, because with their latest win the Saints have continued to tumble down the draft board. As of Week 15 and with a 5-10 record they now sit in the No. 8 spot, ahead of the Bengals by virtue of the strength of schedule tiebreaker.
The Saints have winnable games remaining, but they won't come nearly as easily as they did in this game. The Titans are building their own positivity and have won two of their past three games behind their own rookie QB in Cam Ward. After that it's the Falcons, a team that doesn't have a lot to play for, but also one that doesn't own its own first round pick to protect.
If the Saints lose both of those games they'd pick no lower than 8th. If they win one they'll pick no lower than 10th. But if they win both? There are a handful of 6-win teams that might not win again. If things break a certain way the Saints could find their draft pick outside the top 10.
All that said, I don't care. Winning is the most important thing when it comes to establishing a culture, and if you have the quarterback in the building you can draft pretty much anywhere and find an impact player.
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3. Too many hits
I don't have a ton to criticize so I'll go with this: I'm a bit concerned with the amount of damage Tyler Shough has been collecting as the starting QB, particularly in the pocket.
You can't avoid all the hits as a quarterback, and Shough has done a good job of getting down quickly on scrambles. The rookie QB was sacked another three times today, which brings his total to 20 over his past five starts. Some of that blame goes to the OL, obviously, but a QB can and often has to be his own best friend in that regard.
I'm a big fan of Shough's game and I'm excited for his future, but there will be things to work on going forward. One of those things will be limiting sacks, because you won't survive four per game.
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One more
OK, guys. I know y'all are excited about the Saints winning games in the Superdome again. But I do need to remind the home fans that stuff like doing the wave and Who Dat chants should really be reserved for the opposing team's offensive possessions and TV timeouts. I say this only mostly in jest. Either way I'll take it over the well-earned silence and/or boos of recent years.