The Recap - Saints Vs Lions Week 13

Ethen Meyers • December 3, 2023

The Recap- Saints Vs Lions


Saints lose Derek Carr to injury yet again, and lose at home welcoming more boo birds to enter the dome that was dominated by blue.


Team Stats 


(Saints/Lions)


Final Score: 28-33

First downs: 23-18

3rd down efficiency: 6/12 - 6/13

Total yards: 362 - 347

Red Zone Efficiency: 4/4 - 3/5

Penalties: 6 for 50 yards- 6 for 45 yards

Turnovers: 2 - 0

Time of possession: 32:10 - 27:50


Takeaways 

  • The red zone offense took a huge leap going 4/4.
  • The defense is becoming just as inconsistent as the offense.
  • Derek Carr is playing banged up.
  • Winston gives hope, not a better outcome.
  • Staff not quite sure when or how to use the weapons we have.


Offense

        The Saints offense looked slow, and sad. Then out of nowhere they put points on the board. Saints HC Allen said that he feels they are explosive as an identity and the one thing that shocked today was their 100% success rate in the red zone. Derek Carr has struggled in the red zone his entire career, you as a coaching staff have to recognize that and make changes, today it felt like they did. Unfortunately, the Saints had two costly turnovers that took the energy out of the ball and the building and the offense could never finish the comeback they mounted out of the half. This game wasn't atrocious for the offense, which means no changes are likely and we will be finishing the season with the pieces in place minus any injuries/lingering issues for Carr. Carr finished the game in the locker room with more concussion and shoulder issues.

Defense

        Our defense is what felt like would keep us relevant this season, and while they are still playing well, they seem to be tapering off. I have made comments a few times that I fully expect this defense to start slacking off, despite what felt easy touchdowns they did give up I feel despite giving up 33, the defense did enough to win this week and the offense couldn't get it done. We will see if the defense continues to trend down, but for now I think they are good enough to win games, even in the playoffs.

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


  • Taysom Hill
  • Alvin Kamara
  • Nephi Sewell


        Olave did everything you expected your best receiver to do today, but that is the primary reason I excluded him. This was a game where we leaned on AK and Hill a lot, and it paid off. It was an interesting choice to exclude Hill in 2 of the final 3 plays after he picked up 4 on first down. We had plenty of time, timeouts left, and the ball. All we really needed to do was put our feet in the ground which is something they did all day. As far as Sewell, he had a couple of sneaky good plays, admittedly I didn't know much about him coming in, but when you heard his name it was for good reasons.


Stock Down

  • Lou Hedley
  • Alontae Taylor
  • Zack Baun


        I do not think much needs to be said about Hedley, while numbers will tell you he has done the same or better as who he replaced, that does not mean he is doing well. There is a reason he replaced someone, and I fully expect him to be out of a job with the Saints come of the offseason. I am a huge fan of Taylor, but man was today rough. He seemed to take bad angles, and miscommunicate a few times which led to big plays for the Lions. Zack Baun mostly got beat today, but I don't fully blame him. Baun came in for Werner who is versatile and seemed to show he is more of an edge player, versus a versatile linebacker. The reason that Sewell came in was partially for coverage situations, which may have been something the coaches decided on the fly seeing Baun struggle away from the line of scrimmage.



Conclusion 

The Saints have had multiple opportunities to win the games we have lost. This was the first one that felt like it was going to be an embarrassing loss but the Saints made it a game once again. A part of me wishes it would have been am embarrassing loss, purely because it would have at least sparked something. A players only meeting seemed to turn the Pels around, but no such turnaround has happened or appears to be in sight.


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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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