New Orleans Saints vs New York Jets 2025 Week 16 Recap

Greyson Jenkins • December 21, 2025

The Saints win their third game in a row, and the feeling around this team is officially the best it’s been since Drew Brees retired. 


New Orleans Saints 29 - 6 New York Jets


I really don’t have much to say about this one, except that everything feels like it’s going in the right direction for the Kellen Moore-led New Orleans Saints. The offense still looked good with numerous starters out, Brandon Staley has the defense humming, and Charlie Smyth appears to be the answer to the long-term kicking issues. Considering where I and a lot of this fanbase felt about this team at the halfway point of the season, I think the Saints have significantly outplayed all expectations and have instilled hope into the city. 


Taysom Hill

Taysom Hill fumbled on the first drive for the Saints, adding to a slew of ball control issues he has had this season. When that happened, I ended up texting my friends, “It’s time for the Saints to Old Yeller Taysom Hill”. Taysom Hill, if you are, for whatever reason, possibly reading this, just know I firmly retract that statement and appreciate how much you made me eat my own words. After the fumble, Taysom Hill ran for another 30+ yards, had 36 receiving yards, and even threw a touchdown bomb to Chris Olave on the last drive of the game. In this game, where everyone in the fanbase on X (Twitter) decided it was time for him to retire, he ended up having the most touches he’s ever had in a game and helped the Saints immensely on offense. I stand corrected on Taysom Hill no longer being able to be a threat, and I am happy that I was wrong. I wonder if he gets even more touches against the Titans next week, and if he can also have a similar performance against the Falclowns and potentially end his Saints career on a true high. In addition, this performance led to Taysom Hill being the only player in the NFL Super Bowl era to have 1000 yards passing, rushing, and receiving. This leads me to truly believe he belongs in the Hall of Fame as the greatest utility tool the league has ever seen, and I’m curious to see if he ever gets the chance at a gold jacket. 


Brandon Staley’s Defense


 I’m going to start this section by giving a huge shoutout to Cam Jordan. With his two sacks, he now has eight and a half sacks on the season and earned himself an extra $800,000 in incentives in this game. He has truly reemerged as a solid rotational piece for the pass rush, which leads me to hope he’s back for one more season as a Saint to compete for the divisional title next year. Another guy who has surprised me this season is Nathan Shepherd, who had a sack and forced fumble in this one. Although his box score numbers don’t look that great, defensive tackles’ (except for the all-pro level ones) performances are never really evaluated by those. He has played extremely well in the run game this season and has also provided a solid amount of pressure from the middle of the pocket. To no surprise, Chase Young had another great game and clutch sack, adding to his stellar season after an injury during training camp. If the Saints can hit in the draft on an EDGE or DT, this defensive line could be a spark for success next season.

In addition to the defensive line, the secondary is playing at a much higher level than expected. Although they did play a Brady Cook-led offense in this game, it was great to see the young defensive backs deliver multiple strong performances as the season continues. Jonas Sanker had a great interception and pass breakup, Quincy Riley seemed to shut down receivers in his coverage, Kool-Aid McKinstry had a few good tackles, and Justin Reid really stepped up as a veteran presence. The secondary held the Jets to three yards per pass, exactly what you want to see against a poor offense that has been struggling to find anything successful. 

Demario Davis is still playing like an all-pro at the ripe age of 36. He has been shooting through gaps and blowing up running backs all season long, and he’s about to turn 37. If he can continue this level of play through the end of the season, I see no reason why the Saints should not confidently bring him back as a key piece of the defense next season. He is one of four linebackers in the NFL playing at his age, yet he is playing like some of the best linebackers in the league that are five or more years younger. He is simply nothing short of incredible. 


The Offense


 Tyler Shough led this offense to seven scoring drives, even though the team is missing numerous starters to injury. The two names everyone knew needed to step up with Devaughn Vele down, Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson, rose to the occasion with massive performances. Chris Olave had 10 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns, which is one of the best performances he’s had in his young career. In addition to these stats, he almost brought down another touchdown, although the defender was able to rip it away last second as they went to the ground. Juwan Johnson was also a huge contributor, finishing the day with eight catches for 89 yards. Shough and Johnson have formed a very solid connection, one that, if they can continue to build on, will be really fun to watch in the future. A lot of people, including myself, were skeptical about whether the extension was worth it after the rough start to the season by Johnson, but he has definitely ended those discussions. At this point, I’m beginning to wonder if the Saints got a deal with the contract. Tyler Shough eclipsed the 300 passing yard mark and almost reached 50 passing attempts, yet was able to keep the ball out of harm’s way throughout the game. If Tyler Shough finishes the season playing at this level, he will 100% be in contention for offensive rookie of the year.


Offensive MVP: Chris Olave


Defensive MVP: The Pass Rush


Special Teams MVP: CHARLIE “THE IRISH HAMMER” SMYTH


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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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