Another game, another loss. The New Orleans Saints somehow had an opportunity to win this game in the last minute, but fell short when it mattered most. Unlike last week’s loss, New Orleans actually fought back and made the game close.
The team looked much better in the second half. In the end, the Saints had some great performances from their team, even in the loss.
WR Devaughn Vele
This felt like a performance that all Saints fans, and probably the front office, had been waiting to see. After trading for Devaughn Vele in the offseason, he has been unable to really find his stride on the team, even after Brandin Cooks and Rashid Shaheed’s departures. Near the start of the game, Vele actually had a poor block attempt and struggled a bit in the first half.
Once the second half came around, Vele made play after play when it mattered most, ending with 93 yards and one excellent touchdown.
Shough to Vele toe-tapper for a Saints TD!
NOvsMIA on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/Jcp0lGWT8J
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2025
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry
Another player who has been pretty up-and-down this season is Kool-Aid McKinstry. He has taken a while to really fit into DC Brandon Staley’s scheme and has been exposed throughout games. This season, McKinstry is ranked No. 82nd in PFSN’s CB Impact Metric, but he didn’t look like that in this game.
On one play, the second-year CB had a big interception of Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa and made a very clutch fourth-down stopping tackle to spark a near comeback.
Kool-Aid with the huge 4th down stop 🛑
📺: FOX | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/jhGTHA2qV0
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 30, 2025
K Charlie Smyth
Here is the best performance of the day, despite coming from only two plays. Earlier in the week, New Orleans released starting kicker Blake Grupe after his struggles, and following the signing of Cade York, the battle between Charlie Smyth and York began. Smyth won and was named the starter against the Dolphins, and although his stats might not look impressive, they were.
First, he made a 54-yard FG look like it could have been good from 70 yards out, and it was right down the middle. Then, when the Saints needed the ball back, Smyth kicked a perfect onside kick and got the ball back. After this season’s kicker debacles, this was a breath of fresh air.
UNBELIEVABLE this from Charlie Smyth ☘️
Onside kicks recoveries are 7% this season and Saints managed to recover here 👏
— Daniel Hussey (@DanielHussey2) November 30, 2025
