ClutchPoints
Awards races are usually decided over months. Every now and then, though, they turn on moments and who looks most comfortable when the pressure finally arrives. That’s exactly what’s happening with the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year race. What once looked like a smooth glide path for a star receiver has been overtaken by something far more difficult to ignore: winning football at quarterback. Over the final month of the season, the New Orleans Saints’ Tyler Shough hasn’t just played well. He has changed the trajectory of a franchise. In doing so, he’s made it clear that the award now belongs to him, not Tetairoa McMillan.
Shough led the Saints in their win over the Tennessee Titans, 34-26, in Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season. That triumph was fueled by a furious second-half comeback and a statement performance from the rookie QB. After trailing 20-10 at halftime, New Orleans outscored Tennessee 24-6 in the second half. They turned a sluggish afternoon into a defining win.
Shough finished with a career-high 333 passing yards and two touchdowns. He showed command, patience, and precision against a Titans team led by fellow top draft pick Cam Ward. The turning point came when defensive end Chase Young strip-sacked Ward and returned it for a touchdown. That ignited a surge that pushed the Saints’ winning streak to four games. That’s their longest since the Drew Brees era.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss why Tyler Shough is the clear Offensive Rookie of the Year over Tetairoa McMillan after late surge.
The Offensive Rookie of the Year award has always favored production. That said, when production intersects with wins, especially at quarterback, the conversation changes.
Shough has done more than put up numbers. Since becoming the starter, he’s led New Orleans to five wins in eight starts. That includes four straight at the season’s most critical point. He’s completing nearly 70 percent of his passes and has surpassed 2,100 total yards. He has also accounted for 11 touchdowns, and thrown just five interceptions. More importantly, the Saints look organized, confident, and decisive with him under center.
That matters.
On the other side, McMillan’s season has been impressive in its own right. The Panthers receiver has cleared 900 yards and scored seven touchdowns. He has flashed elite body control and contested-catch ability. However, his weekly production, while solidm, has not altered outcomes in the way Shough’s has.
Quarterbacks don’t just contribute. They define ceilings. Shough has raised New Orleans’ ceiling in real time.
This isn’t about diminishing McMillan. It’s about understanding value.
A receiver can dominate coverage and still lose. A quarterback who protects the ball, extends drives, and closes games reshapes everything. Shough has done that while operating behind a battered offense that has been missing key contributors. Those include Alvin Kamara, who spent time on injured reserve.
Despite that, expectations inside the Saints’ locker room...
