Tyler Shough and the Saints’ Journey
Mike Tyson once said everyone has a plan until they get hit, and for Tyler Shough, that might be very relevant.
The New Orleans Saints, with Shough at the helm, currently sit at 1-1. Both of their games have followed a similar pattern: they start out stumbling, but then rally late for dramatic finishes. In their opener, they found themselves down 21-7 against the Detroit Lions late in the third quarter, only to push the game into overtime on the road. They had two shots at winning but saw a 62-yard field goal attempt from Daniel Carlson miss the mark and failed to convert a two-point conversion in overtime, resulting in a heartbreaking 31-30 defeat.
In the second week, the Saints again trailed, this time to the Baltimore Ravens, 17-9 as the fourth quarter kicked off. However, they rallied with 15 unanswered points, ultimately winning the game 24-17.
There was some debate over a fourth-down touchdown sneak by Shough with under two minutes left, but the call was upheld, allowing the Saints to emerge with a 1-1 record.
Shough’s performance has mirrored this pattern: a slow start followed by a fiery finish. Against the Lions in Week 1, he was 10-for-22 with 85 yards and an interception in the first half, but he turned it around in the second half, completing 25 of 34 passes for 325 yards, three touchdowns, and another interception.
In Week 2 against Baltimore, Shough initially went 12-of-15 for 102 yards before stepping up to 15-of-19 for 150 yards and a touchdown after halftime.
When focusing only on the fourth quarter this season, Shough has completed 24 of 31 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns, with a clean slate on interceptions. These numbers translate to an impressive passer rating of 125.3 and an Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt of 9.59.
To put that in perspective, NFL averages for these categories are 94.7 and 6.4, respectively.
While a win is a win in the NFL—and a 1-1 start keeps the Saints in the NFC South mix—fans are understandably asking if this momentum can be maintained.
Given the evidence so far, it just might be possible.
No team wants to rely solely on comebacks, but there’s a potential model for the Saints in following in the footsteps of the 2025 Chicago Bears, who notably secured seven comeback victories, including one in the Wild Card round, leading them into the Divisional Round last season.
Shough’s best moments this year have been during these fourth-quarter comebacks. Take, for instance, his fourth-down conversion against the Lions that kept the drive alive: facing a blitz from the right, Shough skillfully maneuvered in the pocket, avoiding a free runner and delivering a perfect pass to rookie wide receiver Bryce Lance, while securely holding onto the ball to avoid a potential strip-sack.
He also showed his strength with a deep throw to Chris Olave under pressure: with Hutchinson breaking through due to a stunt, Shough kept his eyes on the play, standing firm to deliver the ball downfield to Olave, who fought through contact to secure a first down in the red zone.
This trend continued last Sunday when Shough connected with Olave on a timely touchdown throw that showcased his growth. It’s this kind of reading and anticipation that genuinely makes me believe Shough’s late-game effectiveness can expand into the earlier parts of the game. As we’ve discussed this week regarding another young quarterback in the NFC South, timing and anticipation are clear indicators that a quarterback is finding their rhythm.
In this moment, Shough recognized the split-field coverage and made an excellent decision, timing, and throw to Olave on an in-breaking route. His confidence and decisiveness reflect a quarterback who trusts his judgement and understands what’s unfolding on the field.
After all, confident and decisive quarterbacks tend to experience success.
With that said, this approach seems sustainable.
