New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough made waves throughout the offseason, fostering a connection with the city of New Orleans.
From Grand Marshal of the Pygmalion parade, to spending the offseason in the city and immersing himself in its culture, Shough has developed a love for the Big Easy, one that made Monday night’s 45-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons sting even more than the final score already indicated.
“I love New Orleans,” said Shough. “I love this place and you see the energy, the passion of everybody, the culture behind this place and it sucks whenever you don’t come through on the field in that way. Especially against our division rival. So, man, it hurts me. I don’t want to feel like that ever again.”
Shough’s postgame media availability was filled with his trademark transparency and accountability, but behind it, a clear sense of frustration.
There was no hiding any emotions after a defeat like for the Saints. Under a national spotlight, in concert with the commemoration of one of the franchise’s most important moments, the Saints (1-3) suffered what a number of players called a flat out failure in all three phases of the game.
The defense was gashed for 205 total rushing yards, including 145 by Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, the offense missed a number of opportunities and special teams continued to leave much to be desired.
Saints fans filed out of the Superdome with over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the very place they arrived early to celebrate the evening, leaving only a smattering of Saints fans drowned in a sea of black and red Falcons jerseys to close out the game.
Shough’s desire to never feel that feeling again is an understandable one. In order to do that, his leadership, along with head coach Kellen Moore’s, will have to lead the team to apply the lessons learned from the loss.
It was an opportunity missed from Week 3’s fourth-quarter meltdown against the Las Vegas Raiders and the Saints can’t afford to miss again. The season is still young, but right now the team appears to be headed in the wrong direction.
They’ll have to correct that soon in order for the early season to be salvaged after such a painful loss. Shough, Moore, edge rusher Chase Young and other team captains challenged the roster after Monday’s loss, but progress can’t come to fruition without erasing unsustainable, consistent mistakes moving forward.
“I’m going to continue to prepare and execute, do everything I can that way to where we’re not feeling like this as a city,” Shough said. “It’s stuff to learn, to grow from. There’s a lot more to be had and we’re going to go get it.”
