Hoss: It’s Time to Show Tyler Shough this 'Dome-Field Advantage' Everybody Talks About

It’s nearly October, and the Saints are finally playing their first home game.

It feels like forever since they played their only home preseason game on August 15th. And they finished 2025 with 2 road games, so the last time the Saints played in Caesars Superdome was December 21, 2025, when Tyler Shough led the team to its third straight win, beating the Jets 29-6.

The Saints were already out of the playoff race, so there wasn’t a lot of juice to that victory. But since Tyler’s arrival, he’s been told stories about how the Superdome used to rock. I mean, physically swaying side to side with the Who Dat Nation going crazy.

But I would say you have to go back to the 2019 season to the last time the building and fan noise impacted the opponent regularly. The Saints last won the division in 2020, but that was the COVID year, so 7,500 vociferous fans, albeit doing their best, just doesn’t count.

Then in ‘21, you had Hurricane Ida season, and the team’s first home game in Caesars Superdome that year was October 3, a heartbreaking overtime loss to the New York Giants. And overall, in Sean Payton’s final year, the Saints finished 9-8 but were 2-5 in the Dome.

So our breakout QB has heard stories about the truly raucous Superdome games. Today, I expect he’ll finally feel it.

It feels weird to say, but he really hasn’t been here a lot. Today is Tyler’s 12th game as the starting Saints quarterback and only his 4th at home. Since he’s been the starter, he’s played 8 road games; that’s a lot in your first 12 games.

This team's 4-4 on the road under Shough, and given the circumstances and the cards he was dealt, I’d call that pretty impressive. But a few things are working in Shough’s favor for a great environment Sunday afternoon—a 3:25 PM kickoff being the first. An LSU night game in Baton Rouge and a noon kickoff against the 2-0 Raiders is sometimes challenging. Fans are waiting for the team to get them into the game, and the team is looking to the crowd for electricity, but it doesn’t always sync up. Having paid attention to these types of things over the years, I know how those 3 hours and 25 minutes can make a world of difference.

Second, the Raiders are unbeaten and come in with Saints’ nemesis Kirk Cousins leading the way. Cousins is 38 years old and simply holding the reins before Fernando Mendoza takes over, but he’s holding onto those reins tightly.

Cousins has beaten the Saints as a quarterback in Washington, Minnesota, and Atlanta. Dating back to the 2019 season playoff loss to Minnesota in OT wildcard game played right here in New Orleans.

Caesars Superdome, Cousins has won 5 of the last 7 games against the Black and Gold. The third aspect, beyond the $6-dollar value menu items, is that the game comes 2 days after the 20th anniversary of the Steve Gleason blocked punt vs. Atlanta in the first Dome game following Katrina.

Now, nationally, the networks are bypassing the calendar itself and treating the Monday Night Football game with Atlanta on October 5th as the anniversary… but whatever. That night is worth 2 celebrations. So everything is in place for a great, loud, impactful crowd.

Yes, the team has to do its part and not go to halftime trailing and be forced to play uphill, but even if they do, I don’t think Tyler and company will be shaken. They’ve gotten somewhat used to it.

But let’s do everything in our power to make this newly renovated Caesars Superdome feel like the Dome of old. I want the WWL-radio Booth 5 to sway. I know it does because I’ve watched both Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars in the exact spot. It physically moves; and the Dome dancing is a little jarring at first, but this grand old lady is designed to move and sway.

And then at the end of the game, when it’s time to celebrate victory, and we’re exhausted from screaming...be sure to save a little extra stamina to sing Happy Birthday to Tyler Shough, who celebrates his 27th birthday on Monday, the 28th.