In a rain-soaked tilt with division rival Tampa Bay, New Orleans Saints rookie Tyler Shough put the team on his back. The 26-year-old quarterback ran for two touchdowns Sunday, including the game-winner in a 24-20 victory over the Bucs.
It wasn't all pretty for the rookie, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards and threw an interception on a miscommunication with Chris Olave, but when the Saints needed a play, the rookie stepped up.
"He's shown to have that it factor," veteran linebacker Demario Davis of Shough. "What is the 'it factor'? I dunno. What is that thing that separates some of the top quarterbacks in the league from the rest of the guys? It's that savviness to make heads-up plays."
Davis noted Shough's ability to make plays under pressure, finding outlets when the pocket is crumbling around him. The rookie did so several times Sunday, finding his check-downs to move the chains, and used his legs to get out of trouble.
"To have that level of ice in your veins to make plays when plays kind of could be dead, in essence," Davis said. "To save a play, to extend a play, to make big runs in big moments, big third downs, to be able to turn into that pocket passer that can read the defense quick and get the ball out. To have that diversity is what I believe what any franchise needs to be successful in today's game. I just don't think that if you don't have that guy at that position that you're going to succeed. It's been great to see him make those plays, and we need him to continue to make those plays."
Shough's first big run came early in the third quarter, when he rushed off the left side for a 34-yard scamper to give the Saints a 14-10 lead. With the game tied 17-17 in the fourth quarter, the rookie escaped multiple Bucs rushers who appeared to have him dead to rights and found his way for the go-ahead score.
"That was a big-time play by Tyler," coach Kellen Moore said. "A pass play on first down, trying to get ourselves an opportunity, they did a good job jamming the receivers, so we kind of got caught up, and it got a little messy on the backside. So, for him to scramble and make a play like that -- it seemed like there are scrambles a lot of times on the touchdowns against these guys on film, and lo and behold, another one showed up."
Shough joined Archie Manning as the only Saints rookie QBs to win multiple starts all-time.
"Every single practice, every single week, I feel my confidence growing more and more," said Shough, who has gone 2-3 in five starts this season.
The performance pushed the Saints to 3-10 and into fifth in the draft order. The rest of the season is pivotal for Shough's future, with hopes that he can be that franchise signal-caller New Orleans has lacked since Drew Brees' retirement.
