The Recap - Saints Vs Bucs Week 17

Jamie UK • January 2, 2024

The Recap- Saints Vs Bucs


        The Saints played probably their best game of the season on Sunday, a case of too little to late? Maybe but at this stage with Dennis Allen’s job almost certainly safe its important to see improvements on what we’ve seen from this team for most of the season.



Team Stats


(Saints/Bucs)


Final Score: 23-13

First downs: 20-13

3rd down efficiency: 8/18- 2/8

Total yards: 310-349

Red Zone Efficiency:1 of 3 - 0 of 0

Penalties:  5 for 31 yards- 5 for 38 yards

Turnovers- 0-4

Time of possession- 36:38 - 23:22


Takeaways


Offense


        Derek Carr continued his late season improvements Carr has now posted a 105.5 passer rating on better in 4 of his last 5 games, he’s only managed to 3 such games in the 11 games prior. Again, Carr wasn’t anything otherworldly, but he was efficient, was very good on third down and crucially handled pressure better than he probably has all season.


        Carr was only under pressure on 7 dropbacks but unlike throughout the season he managed those dropbacks well, he completed 4 passes on 6 attempts (66.7%) for 47 yards and a Touchdown. On the season Carr has only completed 48% of his passes under pressure. So, a significant improvement in this game, but like most things with Carr and this offense we need to see this on a consistent basis for this offense to be what it needs to be.


        Finally, we saw Carr connect with his TEs in the way we expected before the season. TE’s accounted for 8 of Carr’s 25 completions and 122 of Carr’s 197 passing yards. They also caught both Touchdown passes that Carr threw. The TE group has been one of the biggest disappointments for the offense all year. Taysom Hill has been okay; Foster Moreau has been mainly a blocker after showing good promise as a receiver with Carr in Las Vegas. 


        Juwan Johnson has been the biggest disappointment of the group, I thought he was ascending into a Pro-Bowl caliber player this year I’ve been wrong but performances like Sunday (8 catches for 90 yards and a TD) is the types play of play I expected to see much more often. Again, as with everything on offense we need to see it consistently for it to mean much but it’s encouraging to see.


        The o-line has shown really solid improvement in pass protection throughout the season especially since Andrus Peat has taken over at LT. They only gave up 6 pressures against the Bucs per PFF, considering the Bucs blitzed on 51.5% of drop backs this is impressive, when earlier in the season if a team blitzed it almost guaranteed pressure.


        Despite the improvements we’ve seen in pass protection we have not seen the same in run blocking. The run game again, outside of Alvin Kamara again struggled against a good Bucs front 7. Kamara was running well before leaving the game with an Ankle sprain, DA would not specify on the severity of the injury when he spoke to the media today. Outside of Kamara Saints RBs and Taysom averaged 3 YPC on 22 carries. This is right up there for me as one the biggest issues that has to be fixed on offense this off-season. A new O-line coach could be something that the Saints need to consider. 


Defense


        This was an important comeback game for the Saints defense, Baker Mayfield and this Bucs offense torched them in the first meeting. That wasn’t the case on Sunday, yes if you look at the stats you may think that it wasn’t a particularly strong outing but there’s some important context.


        With 10:30 left in the 4th quarter the Saints were up 20-0, at this stage the Bucs had 150 yards of total offense. The Saints took their foot of the gas and the Bucs next three drives accounted for 199 yards and 2 TDs. Now, the Saints still gave these plays up but it’s reasonable to think that the plan that was in place earlier in the game wasn’t quite what was called at this point in the game.


        The Saints sacked Mayfield twice and forced 4 turnovers (well, forced 3 and were gifted 1) Johnathan Abram accounted for 2 of those turnovers with an interception on a tipped pass by Tanoh Kpassgnon and forced a fumble on a textbook strip on Bucs RB Rachaad White. Whilst Alontae Taylor snagged his first career INT when he high pointed an underthrown pass from Mayfield. 


        The final turnover was a play very reminiscent of a play involving Chris Olave against the Bucs last season. A completed deep ball, where the receiver in this case was Trey Palmer who caught it, went down untouched and fumbled, Isaac Yiadom recovered, this was actually a pretty crucial mistake as this would have set the Bucs up down with 1st and 10 from the Saints 21 with 03:48 to go, yes still down 16 so a comeback would have been unlikely but this allowed the Saints to get the ball back and drain a further 01:44 of the clock, almost assuring the victory.



Saints Stock Exchange (Sponsored By… Nobody)


        Just a quick hit section each week to highlight which Saints players/staff have their stock value increasing and decreasing after each game, 3 up and 3 down:


Stock Up

  • Johnathan Abram
  • Alontae Taylor
  • Juwan Johnson


        Abrams for most of the season has been a reserve/practice squad player, he was given the start at Safety for 2 reasons, rookie Jordan Howden missed practice in the build up due to illness and Abrams has put in the work behind the scenes all season to have earned the opportunity, DA commented that Abrams has logged the most time on the team issued iPads watching film. Taylor bounced back well after being benched against the Rams last week and earned his first career INT, that warrants a place on this list 9 times out of 10.


        Final place on the ‘Ups’ this week goes to Juwan Johnson; he was dominant in this game accounting for 90 of the teams 208 passing yards. Hope to see another strong game to close out the season.



Stock Down

  • Cam Jordan
  • Paulson Adebo


        Cam Jordan won’t find his name here often, clearly, he’s still hampered by the ankle injury as despite his sack numbers being very low, he was pressuring the QB still at a close to elite level. That’s not really been happening since the injury. On Sunday Cam didn’t register a single QB pressure or any defensive stops in the run game per PFF (Defensive Stops - tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense).


        My final down for this game is Adebo a player who has featured heavily in the ‘Ups’ list throughout the year. He struggled a bit in this game, per PFF he gave up 3 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown on 8 targets. The 2 catches for 68 yards he gave up to Mike Evans, Adebo was not close in coverage. He was credited by PFF as giving up the 47-yard TD to Chris Godwin from watching the play back I am not sure how so that might not be fair.


Conclusion


        The Saints showed up when they had to this was lose and go home and they produced their most complete game of the season, against a team that isn’t a bottom dweller. That deserves credit. The lion's share of that credit should go to the veteran leadership on this team for keeping everyone together rather than the coaching staff.


        With DA almost assured to keep his job, all I’m looking for in the season finale is to see some more positive play to lead us into the off-season and most importantly to end the seasons with a win to avoid being swept by the Falcons. 


Make sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram @SaintsReportUK, for much more Saints content and discussion throughout the 2023 season and beyond.

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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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