Shough's historic performance ignites a four-game win streak, placing him in elite company with Saints legends and cementing his potential as the team's future star.
The New Orleans Saints (6-10) won on Sunday. On the surface the win was not significant. The Saints defeated the three-win Tennessee Titans (3-13) by just eight points, 34-26. It took a fourth quarter comeback to win it.
The game bore more significance than it seemed. It was a historic day for both the Saints and Shough.
For the first time since Drew Brees led the team, New Orleans has won four straight games. Needless to say, a four-game winning streak after a 2-10 start is not a common occurrence. In the process, the Saints' quarterback is commanding attention around the league as a legitimate NFL starting quarterback.
Shough completed 22 of his 27 passes for 333 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The day resulted in a 142.7 passer rating and more than 80% completion percentage.
The rookie signal caller is now in rarefied air after the historic performance. Shough joins Drew Brees and Jim Everett as the only New Orleans quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns with more than an 80% completion rate. Drew Brees achieved that feat 10 times as the quarterback for the Saints.
Over the last three games, Shough has five touchdowns and no interceptions. In each game, he has thrown for more than 270 yards. Over the three games, Shough is averaging 304 yards per contest.
Shough is now one of three quarterbacks to have more than 300 yards and no interceptions in back-to-back games in their rookie season. The other two quarterbacks were Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
On Sunday, he got the job done shorthanded. The Saints were without their second and third best receivers, top three running backs, two starting offensive lines and second and third string tight end.
Shough's first season as an NFL starter has provided several signs that the quarterback is New Orleans' quarterback of the future at least. There are few more resounding ways to prove legitimacy than consistently passing above 200 yards for an extended period of time. Given how much other quarterbacks have struggled to reach that bar, it seems evident that the Saints have a franchise quarterback even though it's early.
New Orleans is winning. There is reasonable optimism that the team is finally putting it all together for a run at the postseason next year. The Saints have a quarterback. He will look to continue his historic run against the Saints next weekend.