The last time the New Orleans Saints won a game this season was in Week 5, and since that point, the team has been very inconsistent. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, it was a worrying performance, and New Orleans needed to bounce back.
Today, facing the Carolina Panthers, the Saints secured their second victory of the season with some excellent performances.
QB Tyler Shough
Here is the most obvious choice that could have been made. In his second start of his young career, rookie QB Tyler Shough led the Saints to victory with an impressive stat line, highlight plays made, and little to no mistakes.
Shough was dealing with an offensive line that was missing two starters (three if you include Trevor Penning, who was traded at the NFL trade deadline), the first game without WR Rashid Shaheed after he was also traded, and it was only his second complete game in the NFL. The odds were against him, but instead, the rookie played like a veteran and helped elevate this team to a win.
FINAL: Rookie Tyler Shough leads the @Saints to a road win in Week 10! pic.twitter.com/Bhc23HiXsf
— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2025
WR Chris Olave
In combination with Shough having a great game, WR Chris Olave was a beneficiary of this performance. The star WR is by far the best receiver on the Saints’ roster, and with contract conversations in consideration, Olave needs to have as many fantastic performances as possible. Against the Panthers, Olave had five receptions for 104 yards and one touchdown. This was his first 100-yard game since Week 8 of the 2024 season.
CB Alontae Taylor
For this third spot, it could have gone to many players on the roster, but in the end, Alontae Taylor had to get the nod. The Saints’ pass defense has been inconsistent this year, and last week against the Rams, it was an ugly showing. New Orleans needed these young DBs to play much better this week.
If the run defense performed well against the Panthers — which would result in Panthers QB Bryce Young throwing the ball — big plays from the CBs could happen, and this was the case on Sunday. Near the end of the game, Taylor came up clutch and baited Young into throwing an interception right to him.