The Bucs should send over some champagne to New Orleans
Tyler Shough has now won three of his first six starts, including a close loss to Miami in Week 13. A season sweep over the Carolina Panthers is the bookend of the latest five-game stretch. It's hard to ignore the rookie's play as the Saints have to start believing in using their draft capital to not find his replacement, but place pieces around him. The Saints scored ten unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Panthers and throw a wrench into Carolina's playoff plans.
Here are three takeaways from the Saints stunner:
Tyler Shough's best day as a professional
With a QB rating of 111.4, Shough was sharp throwing the football on Sunday. Finishing with 272 yards on 24/32 passing and an 8.5 YPA with a touchdown and no turnovers, the rookie delivered again in clutch time as the Saints drilled a game-winning field goal as time expired. The former Louisville quarterback has provided a solid rushing floor, proving it again with 32 more yards on the ground. His final run was aided by a penalty, which put the Saints in a more comfortable field-goal spot.
Shough routinely lit up Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele, as both receivers finished with 6 and 5 catches, respectively. Olave hauled in the game-tying touchdown with 2:33 left in regulation. Shough is putting pressure on the Saints, and it is very welcome.
Kellen Moore and the Saints are starting to believe
“We’re not going to be able to go to the playoffs this year, but we’re building something really special," Saints coach Kellen Moore said, "Every single guy in that locker room, the way they prepare and compete and stay together through each and every experience, you know, the last two weeks has been an awesome example.”
Chase Young is on board with Shough as well. The last two weeks have been major for the direction and culture of the Saints moving forward.
“Every week, I can just tell he’s getting more comfortable; he’s just starting to look like that guy."
"Whatever he’s doing, we got to get him to keep doing it.”
Chase Young's clutch sack
After allowing an 11 yard run on third down, Young sacked Bryce Young to put Carolina at 2nd and 19. Following two more plays, the Panthers punted the ball back to New Orleans and the rest is history. This was the biggest defensive play of the game.