It’s getting harder to make these ups and downs lists. The New Orleans Saints have had so many players step up and deserve a spot on the list, but for the sake of having some variety, Tyler Shough and Chase Young had to be left off the list. But they would have definitely made another appearance.
After a win, the Saints are now on a four-game win streak and are eyeing the chance to end the year with a win over the Atlanta Falcons to bring a five-game win streak to end the season.
Up: HC Kellen Moore
Head coach Kellen
Moore’s start to the season wasn’t great. The Saints started 1-8, and despite finding ways to keep games close, could never find a way to come out with a win. From problems with playcalling to penalties, a lot of the black and gold’s faults were put on their first-year head coach.
The script has flipped now after New Orleans has won their fourth straight and five of their last seven. The most obvious adjustment Moore has made was giving Tyler Shough the keys to the offense. Shough is 5-3 as a starter and is undeniably the guy for the Saints’ future.
Sunday’s win may have been the team’s best win of the year. From being down 13-0 to fumbles and missed field goals, the execution on the field wasn’t to fault of Moore, but New Orleans found a way to fight back. Offensive playcalling has stepped up, and penalties have while penalties have still been a nagging problem, but the team looks cleaner and more fleshed out while, more importantly, taking wins.
Up: RB Audric Estime
Second-year running back Audric Estime had the Saints’ best running game of the season. Estime ended the day with 94 yards and a rushing touchdown against the Titans and was a real x-factor in the win, rushing for a 32-yard dagger touchdown to put the game nearly out of reach for Tennessee.
Estime hasn’t had the chance to display what he could do much this season, but he has consistently made plays out of nothing. It may have taken three running backs ahead of him to get injured, but the former Denver Broncos undrafted free agent has taken advantage of his chances and put on a big game that likely will land him on an NFL roster next season, if not the Saints.
Up: TE Juwan Johnson
Tight end Juwan Johnson is having a career year and added to it with the best receiving game of his career. Johnson ended Sunday’s game with 95 receiving yards, which was the most of his career, adding to his season total of 828 yards along with three touchdowns. The sixth-year tight end is in his first year of a three-year $30 million contract and has found a nice connection with his former college teammate. Johnson has been a solid outlet for Shough and continues to make plays after the catch while being a reliable middle-of-the-field target.
Down: P Kai Kroeger
The Saints’ opening drive was nearly catastrophic. Shoguh was pressured immediately by superstar defensive tackle Jefferey Simmons and fumbled. Still, center Luke Fortner was luckily able to recover the ball, and New Orleans could end the drive with a punt. The unfortunate part for the Saints is that punter Kair Kroeger absolutely shanked the punt, netting just 17 yards after punting from the Saints’ own 18-yard line. New Orleans forced a three-and-out, but the poor punt was good enough field position for the Titans to end the drive with a field goal.
Kroeger would have two more punt attempts to end the game, both being pretty mediocre, as he averaged 39 yards per punt between the two. The rookie punter wasn’t impressive, finishing the day with three punts for 96 yards, averaging 32 yards per punt. Punter has been inconsistent for the Saints throughout the season and looks to be a position to address in the offseason.
