New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2025 Week 8 Recap

Greyson Jenkins • October 27, 2025

The Saints officially hold the #1 overall pick… and the Tyler Shough Era has begun.

New Orleans Saints 3 - 23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers


 This game was a tough watch. There weren’t many positives, and the offense looked the worst it has all season, including the pathetic performances against the Bears and Seahawks from earlier on. The defense held the Buccaneers to 16 offensive points, and yet the Buccaneers were so in control of the game that they were able to put their second stringers in. That shouldn’t happen. 


The Positives

Get ready for the shortest positives section of the season. There is not one positive from the offensive side of the ball, but surprisingly, there are a couple on the defensive side. 

Chase Young once again made his presence felt on the opposing team, having a tackle for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. You can clearly see that he is a good building block for this team for the future when healthy, but he needs someone on the other side who can help restrict quarterbacks to staying in the pocket. If the Saints get a top-tier edge rusher to go across from Chase Young next season, the team may have something going for them in terms of a pass rush. 

The young secondary played well. Kool-Aid McKinstrey and Quincy Riley both looked prepared and ready to cover a better group of receivers, as neither allowed any big plays. Even more noteworthy, the Bucs attempted two fades on Kool-Aid, neither of which they were able to complete. He was able to completely shut both down to the point where he had two very good opportunities for interceptions, and the receivers had to play defense. As the season goes on, I’d like to see Kool-Aid turn opportunities like that into turnovers, especially if the offense won’t be able to do much themselves.

The Negatives


If I wanted to, I could write up negatives for every single person at every position on offense, but I don’t want to waste my Sunday night doing so. Instead, I am going to focus on the biggest negatives on this side of the ball and how I feel they will affect this season. 

Rashid Shaheed looked like a pure “speed guy” out there. Although you may not see it from the box score if you were unable to watch the game, Rashid Shaheed had a horrid performance today. He had two catches that led to fumbles called on the field returned for touchdowns, with one being overturned to incomplete, and the other a touchdown that the refs wrongfully said they “blew dead”. This preseason, everyone at training camp discussed how well Shaheed was doing, and that this season might be his breakout season as a do-it-all receiver. I was so overhyped from all of these discussions that I believed he could even potentially surpass Olave as the WR1. Clearly, I’m an idiot and have no clue what I was thinking there. This game showed that Shaheed, a great speed threat, may never be a go-to guy for quarterbacks to rely on when needing tough catches. Do I think Shaheed is one of the best speedy receivers in the league? Absolutely. Do I love Shaheed and want him to stay on the Saints? Yes. However, I feel it is in the Saints' best interest, as well as Shaheed’s, to trade him to anyone offering a 4th or better. This obviously decreases the explosiveness of this receiver room, but provides more opportunities for Vele to step up alongside Olave. For Shaheed, it also means he could be traded to a contender and used for what he does best, scoring on deep balls. 

Spencer Rattler had another tough game with multiple turnovers, one fumble on a scramble (second straight game with a fumble on the first offensive drive), and an interception for a touchdown thrown straight into a defensive end’s arms. Did I mention that both turnovers were forced by the same person, Anthony Nelson? I didn’t because it doesn’t really matter outside of trivial means, but it was definitely an impressive performance for him. Anyways, outside of the turnovers for Spencer Rattler, his performance wasn’t “terrible”. He had 136 yards through 15 completions on 21 attempts. I do not think at all that this offense is bad solely because of him, because he has shown positive moments, and I do believe he could succeed with better personnel around him. That being said, he wasn’t playing well enough to keep Tyler Shough off the field. Kellen Moore said he was looking for a spark by putting in Shough, but is unsure of who will be the starter next week. In my opinion, you can’t really afford to go back to Rattler after benching him mid-game, and I think you have to go and see what Shough can do the rest of the year, good or bad. 

There are definitely many more negatives to discuss, such as Trevor Penning showing he isn’t worth being brought back, the penalties galore, and don’t even get me started on Juwan Johnson (if I could roll my eyes through the screen for you, I would). This Saints team is in desperate need of young talent, yet it only possesses five draft picks for the upcoming draft. Mickey Loomis and the rest of the Saints’ front office have put them in a terrible spot, and it is hard to see a way for Kellen Moore to claw this team out of it quickly. 

 

Closing and Team MVPs


 I really don’t know what to say about this Saints team. There are only about 10 or so guys that I’d keep right now if everyone were a free agent, and none of them are “stars”... yet, at least. I am excited to see what Tyler Shough has in him, and I like that Kellen Moore is willing to make the move, even if it doesn’t end up working out. The Saints now have the #1 overall pick in the draft, so if they lose out, so be it. The rest of this season is for figuring out if Shough is decent enough to prevent the team from drafting another quarterback in April, and I am praying the team doesn’t have to. 


Offensive MVP: NONE. 


Defensive MVP: Chase Young. (great to see)


Special Teams MVP: NONE. (Good to see Blake make one though)


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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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