New Orleans Saints vs New England Patriots 2025 Week 6 Recap

Greyson Jenkins • October 12, 2025

In a game where Spencer Rattler might have had his best performance as a Saint, his weapons failed him.

New Orleans Saints 19 - 25 New England Patriots


 The Saints lose another “competitive” game where they keep the fans in it til the end, just to break their hearts yet again. This result was due to two main causes: the defense lacking talent, and the weapons on offense making mistakes. 


The Positives

Spencer Rattler had another solid performance in this one, completing 20 of 26 attempts for 227 yards and had 10 straight completions at one point. He also made some really good plays with his legs again, navigating the pocket well and running for 20 yards on 4 attempts. He had multiple plays and throws in this game that had me saying to myself, “he’s the guy”, and that the team should build around him. That being said, there were a few plays that Chris Olave let Rattle down on good throws, one in the endzone, one on a deep ball, and another on a crucial play late in the game for a first down. Spencer Rattler is doing everything he can to keep the Saints alive… and the offense around him isn’t helping him out.

Blake Grupe had his best game of the season, going 4/4 with a long of 54. This was a game where another miss like he’s had in previous games would be a dagger, and he stood up to the test and did his job today.


Chris Olave had a very solid game today if you look at the box score, and his first hal-f was one of the best he’s had as a Saint. The sad thing is, I can’t rightfully put him in the positives today as his misses helped the Patriots win the game. 


The Negatives


Getting right back to Chris Olave, who is a possible trade piece for the Saints this year, he failed to make plays that a true WR1 for an NFL team should make. As I mentioned before, he had three drops/misses on balls from Rattler that could have, and arguably should have been, caught. Each came in big moments and all of them were throws in big moments that could have been massive boosts for the team. He did make one absurd contested-catch leaping over Marcus Jones on a long 3rd down, but came down and then fumbled (luckily the play ended up being ruled an incomplete catch). Olave has made some incredible catches in his career, but he has failed to truly step up in big moments, with a few exceptions. He is looking to sign a big contract, and he has not lived up to how you would expect a WR getting a huge pay day to perform. In fact, Kayshon Boutte stepped up in big moments for his team, with two strong contested catches over Kool-Aid McKinstry. If Olave wants a pay day, and if the Saints are looking to keep him around, he needs to make plays like Boutte did today.


The Saints defense was horrific today. More specifically, the secondary was horrific today. Jonas Sanker and Quincy Riley had extremely bad lapses in coverage today, both failing to realize where their help was and allowing their assignments to get wide open. Drake Maye was able to find open receivers constantly throughout the game, picking apart a talent ridden defense. Kool-Aid McKinstry looked terrible again, after a 2-interception game all of us would hope he could build off of. Opposing QBs seem to be targeting him, and I just can’t blame them for doing so. The defense did stand up and force two punts during the 4th quarter, but Kool-Aid let up another big gain on a 3rd and 11 in coverage against Kayshon Boutte of all people. 


Juwan Johnson. Someone who was extremely productive to start the season, let the team down with a huge fumble in the 4th quarter as Spencer Rattler tried to drive the team down the field. There are a lot of people on Twitter (or X, whatever you’d like to call it), calling him Juwan “Jared Cook” Johnson, but Jared Cook was a reliable option in the red zone and at least had above average hands. I can’t say the same about Johnson. Johnson has let down the team and Rattler a couple of times this season, and his production has steadily decreased every game so far. If he wants to be the TE1 for this team for the foreseeable future, he needs to live up to the $30 million contract the Saints gave him, and so far he hasn’t. 


Closing and Team MVPs


 In all honesty, I just don’t have much to say about this game other than that I’m very disappointed. Spencer Rattler showed up quickly, and he didn’t make any “bad” plays this game, if anything, he made lots of “good” plays that showed me the team can build around him. It’s just a shame that the weapons the team have “invested” in let him down like they did. The team was competitive, as they have been in all but 1 game, so let’s see if they can bounce back and hopefully get revenge against Dennis Allen next weekend in Chicago.


Offensive MVP: Spencer Rattler


Defensive MVP: NONE. Pathetic.


Special Teams MVP: Blake Grupe


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Why Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton RoyalWhy Peyton "Pop" Houston Could Play a Major Role in LSU's Pursuit of Easton Royal

By Auston Taylor • July 8, 2026
 LSU has made it clear that five-star wide receiver Easton Royal remains one of its top priorities in the 2027 recruiting class. Although Royal is currently committed to Texas, LSU has continued to recruit him aggressively. Based on recent recruiting events and public reporting, one factor that could strengthen the Tigers' position is the presence of quarterback commit Peyton "Pop" Houston. While no outcome is guaranteed in recruiting, Houston's relationship with Royal has become one of the more intriguing storylines surrounding LSU's 2027 class. According to recruiting coverage from The Opening and reports from And The Valley Shook, Houston and Royal showcased noticeable chemistry while competing together on the national stage. Houston also drew attention by winning the event's longest throw competition with a reported 67-yard throw, further reinforcing why many evaluators consider him one of the premier quarterback prospects in the 2027 class. In my view, Houston has the potential to become much more than another highly rated offensive commitment. Elite quarterbacks often become magnets for other top recruits, and early signs suggest Houston could have that kind of influence on LSU's 2027 recruiting class. Why Houston Matters in Royal's Recruitment Quarterback and wide receiver relationships have become one of the most influential factors in modern recruiting. Elite receivers aren't simply choosing a school—they're choosing an offense, a coaching staff, and perhaps most importantly, the quarterback who will help maximize their abilities. If Royal ultimately views Houston as LSU's quarterback of the future, it gives the Tigers another compelling selling point. Rather than asking Royal to imagine what the offense could become, LSU can point to chemistry that has already been displayed during national recruiting events. That doesn't guarantee a commitment flip, but it does provide LSU with something tangible that few recruiting pitches can offer: an established connection between two elite prospects. LSU's History Shows Why This Matters LSU's greatest offensive seasons have consistently featured elite quarterbacks throwing to elite receivers. During the Tigers' historic 2019 National Championship season, Joe Burrow captured the Heisman Trophy while throwing to arguably the greatest receiving corps in college football history—Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and Terrace Marshall Jr. That offense rewrote NCAA record books and remains the standard for modern college football offenses. A few years later, history repeated itself. Jayden Daniels won the 2023 Heisman Trophy while benefiting from one of the nation's most explosive receiving duos in Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. Daniels' remarkable development was certainly his own, but LSU's elite receiving talent allowed the offense to reach another level. The lesson is clear: great quarterbacks elevate receivers, but elite receivers also help quarterbacks reach championship-level production. That history gives LSU a compelling message for recruits considering Baton Rouge. Peyton "Pop" Houston's Development Houston's rise as one of Louisiana's premier quarterback prospects is backed by more than recruiting rankings. Evaluators consistently praise his arm strength, touch, ability to extend plays outside the pocket, and willingness to attack defenses vertically. His continued development at Evangel Christian Academy has made him one of the foundation pieces of LSU's 2027 recruiting class. The Bigger Picture If LSU eventually pairs Peyton Houston with Easton Royal, it would represent much more than another recruiting victory. It would signal that LSU landed a quarterback capable of attracting elite talent around him while adding a receiver willing to build alongside that vision. Programs that consistently compete for championships often see recruiting momentum build this way. Elite quarterbacks attract receivers. Elite receivers attract additional offensive talent. Once that cycle begins, recruiting classes can quickly become special. None of this guarantees that Easton Royal will flip his commitment. Texas remains in a strong position, and recruiting decisions can change for countless reasons. However, Houston's emergence gives LSU something every elite program hopes to have: a quarterback capable of becoming the centerpiece of an entire recruiting class. LSU has already witnessed what happens when championship-caliber quarterbacks are paired with elite receivers. Joe Burrow won the Heisman Trophy. Jayden Daniels won the Heisman Trophy. If Peyton "Pop" Houston eventually helps bring Easton Royal to Baton Rouge, it could become one of the defining recruiting stories of LSU's 2027 class—and perhaps the first step toward building another explosive Tiger offense.

Tight End Room Outlook: Revamped and Ready To Roll

By Kaden Arkeder • July 4, 2026
The tight end room has some fresh blood and they look poised to be more impactful heading into next season. With the new arrivals of Noah Fant and third round draft pick Oscar Delp the offense will have the ability to play more in multiple tight end sets to create mismatches for the defense. Multiple tight end sets should allow the Saints to improve the run game and conversely the play action game. Playing in tight end heavy sets was something they were unable to do more of last year due to injuries and lack of talent at the tight end position. Mainstay and the only returning starting caliber player is Juwan Johnson. Johnson had a good year last year as one of the few reliable targets in the passing game aside from Chris Olave. Johnson is looking to build on a solid year where he had 77 receptions for 889 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns. He was a security blanket when Rattler was starting and had quite a few big plays when Shough took over as the starting quarterback. With Shough coming into the season as the presumed starter I expect their connection to be even better next season. Someone hoping to have a better connection with a new QB is Noah Fant. Fant was a first round pick back in 2019 with the Broncos but has never quite lived up to his draft status. Fant will be playing on his third team in three years as he seeks to be a quality rotational piece in the offense and find stability for his career here in New Orleans. Fant should be utilized more in the passing game than in the running game but should be able to hold his own when called upon to do his part on run downs. Fant has been on a statistical decline since his time with Denver as his best receiving season came in at 68/670/4 back in 2021. Although his stats have been declining Fant still has plenty to offer with his athleticism and should produce more given a better opportunity. After Fant in the depth chart should be Oscar Delp who could be the x-factor of the tight end room after being selected in the third round of the draft this year. Delp brings a versatile option to the offense as he can lineup in various spots and handle the rigors of blocking in the run game. Delp’s calling card in college was his elite athleticism which jumps off the screen when you watch his tape. He has the ability to turn a five yard catch into an explosive play with how quickly he can get to top speed. Delp is an adequate, willing blocker where like most new tight ends in the league has room to improve in the blocking area of his game. With his versatility and athleticism I believe Delp will play a pivotal role in the offense this upcoming season. With Delp presumed to round out the depth chart at tight end the remaining tight ends will be competing for spots on the practice squad or spots on another team. This group includes Cody Hardy, Treyton Welch, Moliki Matavao, and Zaire Mitchell-Paden. We’ve seen Welch and Matavao from last season fill in admirably after some injuries but are best served as bench options at this point in time in their development. This group of roster hopefuls should hopefully provide some good competition from one another as we progress through training camp and preseason here shortly. Overall this group has a lot more promise heading into this season as it did last year. By getting younger and more athletic the tight ends will play a more prominent role in Kellen Moore’s offense. Whether it’s Juwan building on last season or Fant having a bounce back year or Delp proving to be revelation, the team is going to have plenty of options to choose from to attack the defense. Exactly what this team needed after not having enough last season.
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