Another tough loss for the Saints, but this one came with something we haven’t been able to say much this season: there were actual positives worth talking about. New Orleans showed fight late, executed a perfect onside kick, and finally — finally — got stability from the kicker position.
The Good
A 56-yard field goal from the new kicker.
That’s not luck — that’s leg talent and confidence. After weeks of inconsistency, the Saints found a guy who stepped in and delivered immediately. Hitting from 56 on the road in Miami is not a small thing. If he can be reliable going forward, that solves one of the biggest problems this team has had all year.
Successful onside kick recovery.
You almost never see these work in today’s NFL, yet the Saints executed it perfectly. Right kick. Right bounce. Right hustle. It gave New Orleans a real shot to make it interesting late and showed the team hasn’t quit.
Young QB keeps showing toughness.
He didn’t fold, didn’t tap out, and kept taking shots downfield. Development isn’t pretty, but you can see pieces coming together — awareness, confidence, and willingness to compete.
Defensive stretches of real effort.
They bent plenty, but they didn’t just roll over. Against Miami’s speed, they held up better than most expected, especially early.
The Bad
Still too many self-inflicted mistakes.
Penalties, blown assignments, and miscommunication continue to stall drives and hand momentum to the opponent.
Protection issues.
The QB can’t grow if he’s escaping pressure every other snap. It affects timing, play-calling, and consistency.
Red-zone execution is still a problem.
The difference between Miami and New Orleans is simple: Miami finishes drives, the Saints don’t.
Bottom Line
Yes, it’s another loss — but there were actual building blocks here.
A kicker who looks like he might finally stabilize special teams.
A successful onside kick showing fight.
A young QB getting real reps and showing grit.
A defense that kept competing.
The season is now about growth, evaluation, and figuring out who belongs in the future plans. Today didn’t fix everything — far from it — but it did offer something the Saints haven’t had in a while: signs of progress.