Canal Street Chronicles
Tyler Shough played another great game for the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, passing for 333 yards and 2 touchdowns with no interceptions. Shough led three touchdown drives in the second half and came up clutch with a 60-yard pass to Chris Olave which set up a go-ahead touchdown pass to Kevin Austin Jr. which capped off a 4-play 80-yard drive which gave the Saints their first lead of the afternoon. Shough is one of the favorites to win offensive rookie of the year, and with a record of 5-3 as a starter on a team many had near the bottom of the NFL before he took over it is easy to see why.
The Saints defense let the Titans get off to a fast start on Sunday as Tennessee jumped out to an early 13-0 lead and led 20-10 at halftime. The Titans are only averaging 17 points per game, so giving up 20 to them in the first half was less than ideal. Chase Young got some points back with a great strip sack which he ran back for a touchdown, but the defense also gave up two touchdown drives of 64 yards and 80 yards to one of the worst offenses in the NFL in the second quarter alone. The defense played great in the second half, allowing just 6 points and keeping the Titans scoreless on their final four drives of the afternoon, but next week against Atlanta if they allow another 20-point first half to an offense that ranks 13th in the NFL rather than 31st, they could be in for a long day.
The Saints special teams also got off to a rough start this week. Kai Kroeger’s first punt of the afternoon traveled just 17 yards and set the Titans up in field goal range to start the drive, and his second barely flipped the field either, as it went just 38 yards and was downed around the Titans 40 yard line. Charlie Smyth missed his first kick of the afternoon but rebounded well by making two kicks of 56 and 57 yards after, as well as making all four extra points. The Saints have had a different punter each of the last four seasons, with the last three all ranking 29th or worse in average punt distance. If they are serious about improving the roster from top to bottom the revolving door at punter needs to stop.
