Staying on the field is a core value for NFL offenses. Extending drives can wear down a defense, keep an opposing offense from gathering rhythm and allows one’s own offense to control the pace of the game and set the tone of the matchup.
In 2025, the New Orleans Saints’ third down conversion percentage left a little to be desired. The team finished No. 17 in the league last year in the metric, converting at a 39.46% clip.
This is an area the Saints improved down the stretch run of the year. It’s also one in which the team will need to continue its upward trajectory in order to be the competitive club it wants to be in 2026.
Doing so may not be as challenging as some might expect, however, and a big reason for that is the play of quarterback Tyler Shough on third downs.
Shough was remarkably efficient on the important down, completing 66.7% of his passing attempts on third down last year, the second-best mark in the league among qualifying passers.
He also had the NFL’s highest third-down passer rating in that same group of passers with a 103.3 mark.
Shough’s clutch play on third down was a massive difference-maker for the team last year and spawns quite the turnaround.
From Week 1-8, the Saints were tied at the bottom of the league gaining on a first down only 28.8% of their third-down passes. After Week 9, once Shough became the starter, the team leapt to No. 11 in the NFL, converting a first down on 41% of their third-down passing attempts.
The team also had one of the highest touchdown to passing attempt rates on third down during that stretch as well, finding the endzone in 7.7% of third-down strikes. That rate was good for No. 3 in the NFL. New Orleans was behind two playoff teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars (9.0%) and the San Francisco 49ers (12.5%).
That’s a huge boost in proficiency on the NFL’s most important down.
Carrying that focus and effectiveness into 2026 can have a game-winning impact for Shough and New Orleans.
