The New Orleans Saints and quarterback Tyler Shough got what they consider a breakthrough victory against Baltimore.
asserted
they → get → Baltimore
“This is a signature win to get it started in his career,” safety Justin Reid said Monday, a day after Shough rallied the Saints from a 14-3 deficit to beat the Ravens 24-17 on the road.
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Shough → get → road
“It’s a catalyst to put the league on notice about who he is and what he can do.”
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he → ’ → what
Although Shough won five games as a rookie last year, they all came against teams that finished with losing records.
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that → win → records
In Baltimore, Shough outdueled fellow Louisville product and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, going 5 of 5 on a fourth-quarter drive and hitting Chris Olave for a 21-yard touchdown that pulled the Saints within 17-15.
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that → outduele → 17
After a tying 2-point conversion, he completed 7 of 9 passes the next time the Saints had the ball and scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-goal sneak from the 1.
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Saints → tie → 1
New Orleans nearly beat Detroit in Week 1 after trailing 21-0, losing 31-30 in overtime when a 2-point conversion attempt failed.
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attempt → beat → overtime
This time, Shough finished the job despite having his face mask yanked backwards in a pile on the winning play.
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mask → finish → play
“It was a great temperature check for us to see where we are as a team,” wide receiver Devaughn Vele said.
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Vele → see → team
“Obviously there are things we have to work on, but this is a good step in the right direction.
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this → be → direction
We want to do a lot of great things this season.”
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We → want → things
What’s working
New Orleans’ late-game execution was on point for the second consecutive week.
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execution → work → week
Trailing 17-9 when the Ravens took over at the New Orleans 49 late in the third quarter, the Saints forced a three-and-out, scored a touchdown, forced another punt in three plays and drove for another touchdown before Julian Blackmon intercepted Jackson to seal the win.
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Blackmon → trail → win
The Saints held the Ravens to three points and 84 yards in the second half, sacking Jackson twice.
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Saints → hold → Jackson
“We didn’t want Lamar scrambling a whole bunch,” Reid said.
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Reid → want → ?
“He’s a really good passer, but the scariest thing about him is still what he’s able to create with his legs.”
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he → ’ → legs
What needs help
New Orleans continues to struggle offensively in the first half — a constant under second-year coach Kellen Moore.
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Orleans → need → Moore
After scoring zero points before halftime against Detroit, the Saints managed two field goals against Baltimore, and the second one came thanks to Barion Brown’s 53-yard kickoff return with 15 seconds left.
“It’s really two straight games now where we earn a first down and then that second third down we’re not able to convert,” Moore said.
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Moore → score → down
“We have to find a way to get some easy yards in there so we can give ourselves an opportunity to get points.”
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we → have → points
The Saints averaged an NFL-worst 1.7 points in the first quarter last year and were 28th in first-half points, averaging 8.4.
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Saints → average → 8.4
Stock up
Tight end Juwan Johnson had four receptions for 66 yards, including a huge third-down, 25-yard catch-and-run to the Ravens 5 and a 6-yard gain to the 1 on the decisive touchdown drive.
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Johnson → have → drive
He has become a dependable option for Shough to complement Olave (eight catches, 86 yards) and Vele (five catches, 64 yards).
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Shough → become → Olave
“It’s just time on task,” Johnson said.
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Johnson → ’ → task
“When you are just savvy, thinking what he’s thinking, you get in the right spot at the right time.”
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you → think → time
Running backs Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara combined for only 48 yards on 17 carries while the Saints averaged a meager 2.4 yards on the ground.
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Saints → combine → ground
Aside from Etienne’s improvised, tying 2-point conversion around the right side, neither player was effective.
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player → tie → side
Kamara had 15 yards on nine attempts with a long gain of 6 yards.
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Kamara → have → yards
Moore said starting left tackle Kelvin Banks would have surgery in the next few days on an ankle he injured in the third quarter against the Ravens.
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he → say → Ravens
He said fourth-year player Asim Richards, who replaced Banks, would continue in that role moving forward.
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who → say → role
The last time a Saints quarterback had more yards through two games was Drew Brees with 669 in 2009, when New Orleans went on to win the Super Bowl.
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Orleans → have → Bowl
Next steps
The Saints play Las Vegas in their home opener.
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Saints → play → opener
The Aporia
