The Saints just marched into Baltimore and pulled off a massive 24-17 upset against the Ravens. If you blinked, you probably missed the arrival of Tyler Shough as a legitimate force at quarterback, and the league better start paying attention right now. This win is way more than just another tally in the column; it’s a statement, especially after how his season started.
Shough’s Turnaround Is the Real Deal
Remember those first eight drives of the season? Shough looked rough, throwing three turnovers as the Saints trailed the Lions 21-0. It was ugly. But since then? The dude has been impossible to not be impressed with. He almost pulled off an insane comeback in Week 1, losing 31-30. Then Sunday, against a team expected to make some noise in the playoffs, Shough was absolutely terrific. He went 27-for-34 for 252 yards, chucked a touchdown, and, get this, no interceptions! He even added nine carries for 23 yards and punched in the game-winning touchdown on a controversial quarterback sneak. His 79.4% completion percentage was the second-best anyone has put up against a Jesse Minter-coached defense. Those aren’t just solid numbers; they scream “reality” for a guy who could be the Saints’ answer at QB.
Clutch Factor on Display
What makes Shough’s performance against the Ravens truly stand out isn’t just the stats themselves, it’s *how* he got them. He was an absolute surgeon on third downs, going 9-for-10 for 131 yards, with seven of those completions moving the chains. He was making throws under duress, dropping dimes into tight windows. And let’s not forget the movement skills; he took three sacks, sure, but he escaped so many others it’s nuts. In the fourth quarter, not even counting the kneel down to end the game, Shough went 12-for-14 for 119 yards and another touchdown. He did all this on the road, against a projected playoff team, and without his left tackle, Kelvin Banks Jr., who was sidelined with an ankle injury. That’s big-time stuff, period.
Look, Week 1 always lies, but Week 2? We’re starting to learn a lot. Over the past five seasons, 75% of teams that start 2-0 make the playoffs, while only a measly 16% of 0-2 teams do. So that Saints win is huge for their season outlook. Elsewhere, the Vikings grabbed an important early-season win against the Bears, 9-3, after Caleb Williams hurt his hamstring in a downpour. Brian Flores’s defense showed up big time after the Bears dropped 59 points last week. These early games are shaping up fast! We’ll see if Shough and the Saints can keep this momentum rolling next week and prove that this isn’t just a fluke.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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