In a season defined by dizzying highs and crushing lows, Sunday’s 34-26 victory over the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium felt like a microcosm of the entire year. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Trailing by 13 points and looking sluggish against a 3-13 Titans squad, New Orleans found a gear in the second half that we haven't seen consistently enough—but when it hits, it is electric.

Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough outdueled No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, and the defense woke up just in time to push the Saints' winning streak to four games. But stats don't tell the whole story. Emotions do. Here are the top 5 moments from a Sunday thriller that kept the Who Dat Nation buzzing.

5. Charlie Smyth’s 57-Yard Rocket

Third Quarter | Saints 20, Titans 23

Let’s be honest, kickers live on a razor's edge in this league. After missing from 43 yards earlier in the game, rookie Charlie Smyth could have easily folded. Instead, he stepped up in the third quarter and absolutely drilled a career-long 57-yarder.

This wasn't just three points, it was a stabilizer. The Titans had just extended their lead, and the momentum was threatening to swing back to the home team. Smyth’s kick had the distance to be good from 65, cutting the deficit to three. It was the moment the Saints stopped chasing the game and started managing it.

4. Shough to Olave: The Spark

Start of 3rd Quarter | Saints 17, Titans 20

The first half was ugly offensively. The Saints needed a heartbeat, and they got it immediately after the break. Tyler Shough, who looked every bit the franchise quarterback we hope he is, orchestrated a surgical drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown strike to Chris Olave.

Olave (8 catches, 119 yards) was unguardable all afternoon, but this play was special. It was the perfect marriage of scheme and talent. Shough fitting the ball into a tight window and Olave doing what he does best, making it look effortless. This touchdown erased the Titans' comfortable lead and signaled that the Saints were done sleepwalking.

3. Chase Young’s "Gimme That" Strip-Six

2nd Quarter | Saints 10, Titans 13

When the offense was stalling in the first half, the defense had to eat. Enter Chase Young.

With the Titans looking to pull away, Young didn't just sack Cam Ward; he bullied the ball out of his hands, scooped it off the turf, and rumbled 33 yards for a touchdown. It was a pure athleticism play—a "create something out of nothing" moment that kept New Orleans alive when they had no business being in the game. Without this defensive bailout, the halftime deficit might have been insurmountable.

2. The Go-Ahead: Shough Finds Kevin Austin Jr.

4th Quarter (6:22 remaining) | Saints 27, Titans 26

This was the drive where Tyler Shough grew up. Down by six midway through the fourth, the rookie marched the team 80 yards with the poise of a 10-year veteran.

The capped moment? A 10-yard back-shoulder throw to Kevin Austin Jr. It was a gutsy call and an even better throw. Austin fought through contact to secure the catch, giving the Saints their first lead of the game. It was the kind of drive that separates "game managers" from "game winners." Shough proved Sunday he belongs in the latter category.

1. Audric Estimé’s Dagger

4th Quarter (3:44 remaining) | Saints 34, Titans 26

If Shough’s pass took the lead, Audric Estimé’s run stole the Titans' soul.

Clinging to a one-point lead, the Saints needed to burn clock. Estimé had other plans. Taking the handoff, he burst through the line, made a safety miss, and accelerated for a glorious 32-yard touchdown.

It wasn't just the points; it was the physicality. Estimé (94 yards on 14 carries) ran angry all second half, and this run was the exclamation point. It broke the Titans' resistance and sent the Saints faithful in Nashville into a frenzy.

What It Means

The Saints are now 6-10, but don't let the record fool you, this team is fighting. They’ve won four straight, the rookies are breaking records (Shough passing Archie Manning’s rookie marks), and the culture is shifting before our eyes.

Next up? The season finale against the Falcons. If they bring this same second-half energy to Atlanta, they have a chance to end a rocky 2025 season on a five-game high.

Who Dat!