The Saints scored their first touchdown on a 4-yard run by Devin Neal with 3:32 left in the second quarter. It capped an epic 17-play, 95-yard drive that took 11:22. Neal left the game after his touchdown with a hamstring injury.
Earlier in the game Smyth made a 42-yard field goal with 1:56 to play in the third quarter to make it 17-10. The 3-pointer came after another long drive, this one 14 plays for 48 yards in 7:58. A big stop by the defense then set up Shough’s TD pass to Olave to tie the score at 17. Shough was 24 of 32 for 272 yards with one touchdown. Olave had six catches for 85 yards while tight end Juwan Johnson added four catches for 30 yards. It was Shough’s first win as the starting quarterback in the Caesars Superdome.
Receiver Devaughn Vele (shoulder) and right guard Cesar Ruiz (ankle) left the game in the second half with injuries. Vele had five catches for 69 yards.
The Saints will play host to the New York Jets (3-11) on Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Caesars Superdome in the final home game of the 2025 season. The Saints end the season with road games at Tennessee and Atlanta.
