The New Orleans Saints watched starting quarterback Tyler Shough throw his team back into Sunday’s game after trailing 21-0 in the third quarter.
The performance allowed the Saints to position themselves for a potential game-winning field goal by kicker Daniel Carlson by the end of regulation, and then again played the team into a two-point conversion attempt for the win in overtime.
Although both efforts came up short, resulting in a 31-30 loss to the Detroit Lions in Week 1, the Saints are now sitting atop the NFL in a number of key passing metrics for the first time since the retirement of Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees.
Passing Yards
Following Monday Night Football and the completion of Week 1, New Orleans now leads the NFL in both gross passing yards and net passing yards.
Shough’s 410 total passing yards paced his team just beyond the Green Bay Packers’ 387, and the Saints’ 378 net passing yards also keep them ahead of the Packers, who finished with 353.
Not only do the Saints lead in both areas, but Shough also sits atop the league in the same two individual statistics. He is also tied with the most passing touchdowns in the opening week with three.
Receiving Yards
On the other side of the equation, New Orleans wide receiver Chris Olave also leads the NFL in receiving yards with 182. His performance was the best wide receiver performance for the team since former wideout Michael Thomas had 182 of his own back in 2019.
Olave is also tied atop the league with Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown for most receptions through Week 1 with 10.
Next Up
The Saints will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, who allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards in their season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was held to just 19-of-31 passing for 166 passing yards (149 net), one passing touchdowns and an interception. The Ravens also added a pair of sacks and four passes defended in their 41-23 win.
The game will be a massive test for New Orleans, a game that few expected them to win. But it will also be a test as to whether or not the team’s passing attack is self-sustained or was just fad, an advantageous matchup against an injured Lions secondary.
