I’m intrigued by what they have going in New Orleans. Those were really nice initial seasons for Kellen Moore and Tyler Shough. That’s a franchise seemingly headed in the right direction.
The Saints finished the year with a 6-11 record, which is nothing special, but they were arguably the league’s most improved franchise as the year progressed. They went 1-8 in their first nine games, but they closed by winning five of their final eight. And they were among the most improved on both sides of the ball.
New Orleans ranked next-to-last in scoring in the first half of the season, averaging only 15.3 points per game. But they averaged a credible 21 points in their remaining games. In the second half of the season, only three offenses averaged more improvement (Jaguars, 49ers, Rams – all by over 8 points per game).
The Saints were even more improved on the other side of the ball. They were a bottom-10 defense in the first nine weeks of the season, allowing 27 points per game. They ranked 5th in scoring defense in the final nine weeks, down at 17.5 points on average. That’s a nice bounce-back season for defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who worked with Moore with the Chargers.
If we put the offensive and defensive numbers together, the Saints were over 15 net points per week better in the second half of the season. That’s 2 points behind Jacksonville, but at least 5 points ahead of everyone else.
On the chart below, I looked at average improvement in Weeks 1-9 versus Weeks 10-18. I used per-game stats because each team played eight games in one half of the season and nine in the other.
| MOST IMPROVED TEAMS (by points) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Off | Def | Total |
| Jacksonville | 11.1 | 6.1 | 17.2 |
| New Orleans | 5.7 | 9.5 | 15.2 |
| Cincinnati | .8 | 9.3 | 10.1 |
| San Francisco | 8.8 | -2.0 | 6.8 |
| Baltimore | -.6 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Tennessee | 4.8 | .9 | 5.7 |
| Chicago | -1.8 | 7.5 | 5.7 |
| Miami | .9 | 4.4 | 5.3 |
| New England | 5.3 | -.1 | 5.2 |
| NY Giants | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 |
| Atlanta | 5.5 | -2.5 | 2.9 |
| Cleveland | 1.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| Minnesota | -4.8 | 6.9 | 2.2 |
| Seattle | -.9 | 3.0 | 2.1 |
| Houston | 5.2 | -4.2 | 1.0 |
| Philadelphia | -7.0 | 7.6 | .6 |
| LA Rams | 8.2 | -8.5 | -.2 |
| Carolina | -1.3 | .9 | -.4 |
| Pittsburgh | -3.6 | 3.0 | -.5 |
| Dallas | -3.2 | 1.5 | -1.7 |
| LA Chargers | -4.8 | 3.1 | -1.7 |
| Denver | -3.0 | .3 | -2.7 |
| Las Vegas | -4.4 | 1.6 | -2.8 |
| Buffalo | -2.0 | -1.1 | -3.2 |
| Washington | -3.0 | -.7 | -3.6 |
| Green Bay | -5.2 | -.8 | -6.0 |
| Detroit | -3.0 | -3.9 | -6.8 |
| Tampa Bay | -4.3 | -3.6 | -7.9 |
| NY Jets | -6.3 | -3.7 | -10.0 |
| Kansas City | -10.2 | -3.5 | -13.7 |
| Arizona | -3.1 | -13.8 | -16.9 |
| Indianapolis | -10.2 | -8.8 | -19.0 |
Shough was a ring leader in this turnaround. He moved into the starting lineup at the halfway point of the season, and he vastly exceeded expectations.
He averaged 251 passing yards in his nine starts, with 10 touchdowns versus 5 interceptions. He also averaged 19 rushing yards, with an additional 3 TDs.
In his nine starts, Shough completed 69 percent of his passes. In the 32-team era, 65 other rookie quarterbacks have started over half the season, and none of them finished with a higher completion percentage. Only seven finished with higher passer ratings (which is how I have them ranked below). Note that the rookies who had better passer ratings weren't flash-in-the-pan type guys -- they had good careers for the most part.
I’m not giving all of the credit to Shough. I think Kellen Moore has a good feel for how to put together a passer-friendly offense. But they look like a good one-two punch, and Shough has played well enough that I don’t think the Saints will be thinking at all about adding a quarterback in the offseason.
They will, on the other hand, be adding a wide receiver, and I’m guessing that will be one of the rookie pass catchers that I’m most excited about. And if I’m a rookie running back, New Orleans would be the city I would be hoping for.
| HIGHEST-RATED ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS SINCE 2002 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | G | Pct | Yd/G | TD | Int | Rate |
| 2016 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 16 | 67.8 | 229.2 | 23 | 4 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | Robert Griffin, Was. | 15 | 65.6 | 213.3 | 20 | 5 | 102.4 |
| 2023 | C.J. Stroud, Hou. | 15 | 63.9 | 273.9 | 23 | 5 | 100.8 |
| 2024 | Jayden Daniels, Was. | 17 | 69.0 | 209.9 | 25 | 9 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 64.1 | 194.9 | 26 | 10 | 100.0 |
| 2004 | Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 13 | 66.9 | 188.1 | 15 | 9 | 99.4 |
| 2020 | Justin Herbert, LAC | 15 | 66.6 | 289.1 | 31 | 10 | 98.3 |
| 2025 | Tyler Shough, N.O. | 9 | 69.2 | 250.7 | 10 | 5 | 95.8 |
| 2018 | Baker Mayfield, Cle. | 13 | 63.3 | 271.1 | 27 | 14 | 93.4 |
| 2024 | Bo Nix, Den. | 17 | 66.3 | 222.1 | 29 | 12 | 93.3 |
| 2021 | Mac Jones, N.E. | 17 | 67.6 | 223.6 | 22 | 13 | 92.5 |
| 2021 | Davis Mills, Hou. | 11 | 68.8 | 228.5 | 15 | 9 | 91.8 |
| 2025 | Jaxson Dart, NYG | 12 | 63.7 | 189.3 | 15 | 5 | 91.7 |
| 2015 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 12 | 62.2 | 234.8 | 19 | 10 | 91.5 |
| 2019 | Gardner Minshew, Jac. | 12 | 59.1 | 237.4 | 18 | 4 | 90.1 |
| 2020 | Joe Burrow, Cin. | 10 | 65.3 | 268.8 | 13 | 5 | 89.8 |
| 2024 | Drake Maye, N.E. | 12 | 67.0 | 187.8 | 15 | 10 | 88.9 |
| 2024 | Caleb Williams, Chi. | 17 | 62.5 | 208.3 | 20 | 6 | 87.8 |
| 2019 | Daniel Jones, NYG | 12 | 61.8 | 250.8 | 24 | 12 | 87.7 |
| 2008 | Matt Ryan, Atl. | 16 | 61.1 | 215.0 | 16 | 11 | 87.7 |
| 2019 | Kyler Murray, Ari. | 16 | 64.4 | 232.6 | 20 | 12 | 87.4 |
| 2020 | Tua Tagovailoa, Mia. | 9 | 63.9 | 200.6 | 11 | 5 | 86.9 |
| 2014 | Teddy Bridgewater, Min. | 12 | 64.7 | 230.8 | 14 | 12 | 85.3 |
| 2011 | Cam Newton, Car. | 16 | 60.0 | 253.2 | 21 | 17 | 84.5 |
| 2015 | Jameis Winston, T.B. | 16 | 58.3 | 252.6 | 22 | 15 | 84.2 |
| 2023 | Will Levis, Ten. | 9 | 58.4 | 200.9 | 8 | 4 | 84.2 |
| 2023 | Aidan O'Connell, L.V. | 10 | 61.5 | 214.3 | 11 | 6 | 83.9 |
| 2013 | Mike Glennon, T.B. | 13 | 59.4 | 200.6 | 19 | 9 | 83.9 |
| 2011 | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 16 | 58.1 | 212.4 | 20 | 13 | 80.4 |
| 2008 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 16 | 60.0 | 185.7 | 14 | 12 | 80.3 |
| 2025 | Cam Ward, Ten. | 17 | 59.8 | 186.4 | 15 | 7 | 80.2 |
| 2016 | Carson Wentz, Phi. | 16 | 62.4 | 236.4 | 16 | 14 | 79.3 |
| 2022 | Kenny Pickett, Pitt. | 12 | 62.5 | 190.3 | 7 | 6 | 79.0 |
| 2013 | EJ Manuel, Buff. | 10 | 58.8 | 197.2 | 11 | 9 | 77.7 |
| 2018 | Sam Darnold, NYJ | 13 | 57.7 | 220.4 | 17 | 15 | 77.6 |
| 2017 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 12 | 59.4 | 182.8 | 7 | 7 | 77.5 |
| 2014 | Derek Carr, Oak. | 16 | 58.1 | 204.4 | 21 | 12 | 76.6 |
| 2012 | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 16 | 54.1 | 273.4 | 23 | 18 | 76.5 |
| 2010 | Sam Bradford, St.L. | 16 | 60.0 | 219.5 | 18 | 15 | 76.5 |
| 2012 | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 16 | 58.3 | 205.9 | 12 | 13 | 76.1 |
| 2021 | Justin Fields, Chi. | 10 | 59.2 | 180.0 | 7 | 9 | 75.3 |
| 2006 | Matt Leinart, Ari. | 11 | 56.5 | 226.6 | 11 | 11 | 74.9 |
| 2023 | Bryce Young, Car. | 16 | 59.8 | 179.8 | 11 | 10 | 73.7 |
| 2012 | Brandon Weeden, Cle. | 15 | 57.4 | 225.7 | 14 | 17 | 72.6 |
| 2007 | Trent Edwards, Buff. | 9 | 56.6 | 170.3 | 7 | 7 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | Trevor Lawrence, Jac. | 17 | 59.6 | 214.2 | 12 | 17 | 71.9 |
| 2003 | Byron Leftwich, Jac. | 13 | 56.3 | 207.3 | 12 | 16 | 70.1 |
| 2011 | Christian Ponder, Min. | 10 | 54.4 | 175.4 | 13 | 13 | 70.1 |
| 2021 | Zach Wilson, NYJ | 13 | 55.6 | 179.5 | 9 | 11 | 69.7 |
| 2014 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 13 | 59.0 | 206.5 | 9 | 15 | 68.8 |
| 2018 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 11 | 53.4 | 181.8 | 10 | 12 | 68.5 |
| 2018 | Josh Rosen, Ari. | 13 | 55.2 | 172.5 | 11 | 13 | 67.7 |
| 2006 | Vince Young, Ten. | 13 | 52.3 | 158.9 | 11 | 12 | 67.5 |
| 2013 | Geno Smith, NYJ | 16 | 55.8 | 190.4 | 12 | 21 | 66.5 |
| 2002 | Chad Hutchinson, Dall. | 9 | 50.8 | 172.8 | 7 | 8 | 66.3 |
| 2006 | Bruce Gradkowski, T.B. | 11 | 54.3 | 149.2 | 9 | 9 | 66.3 |
| 2011 | Blaine Gabbert, Jac. | 14 | 50.4 | 154.4 | 12 | 11 | 64.8 |
| 2009 | Mark Sanchez, NYJ | 15 | 53.8 | 162.9 | 12 | 20 | 63.0 |
| 2002 | David Carr, Hou. | 16 | 52.5 | 162.0 | 9 | 15 | 62.8 |
| 2010 | Jimmy Clausen, Car. | 10 | 53.4 | 145.2 | 3 | 7 | 62.1 |
| 2003 | Kyle Boller, Balt. | 9 | 51.6 | 138.9 | 7 | 9 | 62.1 |
| 2002 | Joey Harrington, Det. | 12 | 50.6 | 186.8 | 12 | 15 | 61.5 |
| 2009 | Matthew Stafford, Det. | 10 | 53.3 | 226.7 | 13 | 20 | 61.0 |
| 2017 | DeShone Kizer, Cle. | 15 | 53.6 | 192.9 | 11 | 22 | 60.5 |
| 2009 | Josh Freeman, T.B. | 9 | 54.5 | 204.3 | 10 | 18 | 59.8 |
| 2005 | Kyle Orton, Chi. | 15 | 51.6 | 124.6 | 9 | 13 | 59.7 |
Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com
—Ian Allan