Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
There is a renewed sense of optimism around the New Orleans Saints and much of it has to do with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The second-round selection is on the verge of his third NFL start, sitting at 1-1 following his first two starts on the road.
In Week 12, Shough will get his first home start against the division rival Atlanta Falcons. In doing so, he has a chance to do make history.
No rookie starting signal caller has won a home game against Atlanta and the last such passer to win away from the Caesars Superdome was Larry Cipa in 1974.
Technically, Taysom Hill has a rookie win as a player designated at the quarterback position in 2017 at home against the Falcons. However, he was a strictly special teams player at the time.
So, if the Saints win on Sunday, Shough will become the first to accomplish the feat in over 50 years.
Additionally, Shough could also follow Cipa as the first rookie starting signal caller in New Orleans to win a home game. No rookie passer has done so since Cipa’s rookie season, though quarterback Dave Wilson won an away game in 1981.
The Saints and Shough could put together a galvanizing victory Sunday and in doing so, could continue to etch the former Louisville passer into the history books. The 6-foot-5 gunslinger can further entrench himself by averaging at least 105 passing yards per game in the remaining seven games in order to break the Saints’ franchise rookie passing yards record.
