Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
The New Orleans Saints’ win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers represented more than just their third win of the year. It also showcased the team’s young talent and provided some optimism for the team’s future. Displaying an ability to manage adversity, generate playmaking and outlast a tough opponent has the team and its fanbase riding high heading into the final four weeks of the season.
The Saints were also graded highly after the victory. Pro Football Focus gave four players grades over or near 80 points, the best of the season for New Orleans. Each of the top five graded players are also under the age of 30, exemplifying the team’s young nucleus as it seeks to build upon its foundation for the future.
Top 5
- LB Pete Werner – 84.9
- TE Juwan Johnson – 84.1
- QB Tyler Shough – 83.7
- CB Alontae Taylor – 80.5
- LT Kelvin Banks Jr. – 79.9
Defensively, the Saints two biggest impact players in regards to grades were Werner and Taylor. The slot corner nabbed his second interception of the season from Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, from whom he also reeled in his first career interception in 2023. He was also created as the nearest defender on six targets, allowing just two to be caught.
Werner allowed only one catch for seven yards and did not miss a tackle in the matchup. He was also the underneath defender on a target, for which he was able to get a hand on and generate a pass breakup.
As for the offensive players, seeing a quarterback, offensive lineman and pass-catcher all fall in the top five is very encouraging. Shough ran for two touchdowns while also continuing to show off his throwing abilities. Johnson has been a go-to player for Shough and came through in a couple of clutch situations down the stretch. Meanwhile, Banks, who fared okay as a pass blocker allowing one hit and one hurry, was the team’s highest-graded run blocker.
Banks’ work in the run game was evident with several big rushing plays going to his left side of the offense, including both of Shough’s designed runs that went for 11 and 34 yards, respectively. The 34-yard run found pay dirt.
Bottom 5
- QB Taysom Hill – 26.9
- DT Jonah Williams – 42.3
- DT Jonathan Bullard – 44.6
- RG Cesar Ruiz – 46.2
- CB Quincy Riley – 46.4
Hill had a rough outing with a fumble and two drops on the day. It was one of his lowest graded games in recent memory. He did still see 24 total snaps on offense where he graded well (68.5) as a run blocker.
In the trenches, Williams and Bullard were each dinged as run defenders, notching sub-50 grades in the area. Offensively, Ruiz was the lowest graded run blocker on the team while being graded as the best pass protector. He was credited with just one pressure, a hurry, surrendered and one declined penalty.
Riley’s day looks a lot worse in the grading than it does on the box score, but some of that has to do with a dropped wide open touchdown by Buccaneers wideout Emeka Egbuka. Riley was also whistled for a defensive pass interference penalty on a third down diving attempt at a pass breakup. Simply put, Riley’s aggressiveness was used against him, biting on double moves and being physical at the catch point. For any coach in the league, that’s still a positive quality worth continuing to encourage.
