Last week, the New Orleans Saints had a chance to beat a down-and-out opponent but instead lost in a way that left many souring on the team’s future. The Atlanta Falcons were able to stop the Saints many times in the red zone, which was the difference in the game.
The Saints have another winnable matchup, but when they go to Miami, they will face a Dolphins team on a two-game winning streak.
Saints vs. Dolphins Preview
With a 2-9 record, the Saints do not have many winning prospects this season, but the focus should be more on the future. Unlike in previous weeks, the pressure on QB Tyler Shough to perform is not too high. Yes, it is still there, but Shough has put in at least good-enough performances every game, and he has been far from the reason for these losses.
In reality, much of the pressure is actually on head coach Kellen Moore. After being hired in the offseason, Moore was always going to have a long leash, and his job would be secure for at least two years, but last week was bad against the Falcons.
As mentioned before, the Saints should have scored a couple of times in the end zone, but the play-calling was far from good. This is becoming a consistent issue for Moore, and it needs to be fixed as we get to the later part of the season.
On offense, New Orleans also needs to stick to the run game. Without RB Alvin Kamara, it may look like a difficult task at first glance, but the Dolphins’ defense has not been good this season. Going into Week 13, Miami is ranked 28th in defense per PFSN’s Defensive Impact Metric.
Going to the Dolphins’ offense, they are incredibly prone to turning the ball over. Looking at PFSN’s Offensive Impact Metric, Miami is ranked 31st in turnover percentage. When they do have the ball, HC Mike McDaniel is an extremely smart play-caller, and the offense is a big play waiting to happen. Also, the return of TE Darren Waller will be something to watch in this offense.
The Dolphins are activating TE Darren Waller from injured reserve and he’ll play Sunday against the Saints, per sources.
Waller scored four TDs in his first three games before suffering a pectoral injury Oct. 19. Now, Miami’s red-zone weapon returns. pic.twitter.com/n2ZmET6cbk
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 29, 2025
Saints vs. Dolphins Prediction
With how Moore is currently coaching, the improvements Miami has made, and the talent the Dolphins still have on offense, this will be a challenging game for the Saints to win. This game may be a perfect opportunity to bounce back on offense, but the defense may struggle.
Final score: Dolphins win 30-17