New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons 2025 Week 12 Recap

Greyson Jenkins • November 24, 2025

I am officially ready for the Kellen Moore era to end in New Orleans. 

New Orleans Saints 10 - 24 Atlanta Falcons


 This game is up there for the most miserable performance to watch by the team this season. The worst part? The offense didn’t play particularly poorly, but Kellen Moore repeatedly made immeasurably bad decisions. Due to this, I won’t be diving into the performances of the offense or the defense, but the two people who are most responsible for this loss: Kellen Moore and Blake Grupe (which also happens to fall on Kellen Moore).


Kellen Moore (Dennis Allen, but “Offensive-Minded”)

When Kellen Moore officially became the Saints head coach, I honestly wasn’t happy or sad; I was relatively neutral. I say this because I believed Kellen Moore was an extremely vanilla head coach, but that he at least seemed competent as a playcaller. I also felt that any head coach who came here would struggle to succeed with the current state of the roster. Now, after I have watched Kellen Moore struggle and fail over and over again to make good decisions 11 games into the season, I am completely out on bringing him back again. 

I now have 18 tweets since the season started questioning Kellen Moore, whether it be regarding his demeanor, game management, or playcalling. He has had multiple instances where he doesn’t make up his mind whether or not he wants to call time-outs or let the clock run to the end of the half, and he has also made terrible decisions when challenging calls on the field. One of those things showed up again today, with Kellen Moore failing to challenge an iffy spot after Dante Pettis was just short of a first down, essentially ending the game. To me, it is a no-brainer to challenge that spot, as if it’s overturned, you still have the ball, save your three timeouts, and are near midfield. In Kellen Moore’s mind, I guess he was thinking that the defense could get a stop, which they did, and they’d still have a shot at scoring 14 points, after scoring only three through three quarters. 

Don’t even get me started on Kellen Moore’s playcalling… Moore struggles to call high-quality plays once the Saints cross into opposing teams’ territory. He has struggled with this all season, with the Saints currently at a 38.5% redzone conversion rate (touchdowns only). This lands them last in the league, over 5.5% below the Texans, and makes them the only team below the 40% mark. This also showed up again in this matchup, as the Saints went to the red zone three times and could not score one touchdown. Two of those trips, they got stopped at the one-yard line, both times coming up short with Taysom Hill, NOT their rookie QB Tyler Shough, who you might think would be important to give reps down there. There was a glimmer of hope for Devin Neal on one drive, who single-handedly led the team from their own 25 to the Falcons’ 45, but he didn’t touch the ball again afterwards. This drive ended with a Taysom Hill shotgun rollout pass, with only one possible option to pass to. That is malpractice. 

Finally, Kellen Moore does not possess the mentality or character to be a head coach of an NFL team; he is simply an offensive-minded coach, akin to Dennis Allen. He simply stands on the sideline, always straight-faced, and doesn’t ever seem to try to light fire under his players’ asses. Anytime something goes wrong, the team loses, players make mistakes, etc. I feel like Kelen Moore could show much more passion on the sidelines than he does. Would this definitely change the Saints season or their future outlook right now? Possibly, and honestly probably not. However, it does in my eyes as someone who has played football through the D3 college level, matter in terms of winning over a locker room. Level-headed coaches can come off as not caring, or as someone who will be in over their head when the going gets tough, and I think we can see that possibly happening this season. 

One final point, the Saints just went to Carolina, won, and had a whole bye week to prepare for this Falcons team. Within that bye week, Kellen Moore said the focus was to “self-scout”. The team clearly failed in that department, as they once again started slow and failed to score 20 offensive points. All-in-all, the Saints team looks like it has a dud at the head coach position, which dampens any hopes I had of the team turning it around any time soon. 

 

Blake Grupe


 Blake Grupe should not have even been on the Saints roster for this game, as he was 17/23 on field goal attempts before this game. However, Kellen Moore believed in him, going against all NFL standards, and thought he could turn it around. Then, in another close game, Grupe misses two huge field goals from very makeable distances, with one also directly leading to three Falcons points. If Blake Grupe is not off the team after this game, or is not at least benched for Charlie Smythe or outside competition, Kellen Moore will absolutely get blasted by beat reporters and Saints fans. 



This game was one I was actually looking forward to after having to wait two full weeks since the game in Charlotte. I wasn’t just let down, but I was made to feel like I couldn’t have been more wrong about how I felt about the team after the Panthers game. Change is needed if the season continues this way, but I do at least feel like the team may have something in Tyler Shough. On to the Dolphins…


Offensive MVP: NONE. 


Defensive MVP: NONE. (Shoutout to Demario Davis still balling though)


Special Teams MVP: NONE. 


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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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