Chris Olave and the New Orleans Saints got off to a very slow start against the Carolina Panthers. The offense opened up back to back three and outs to totaling just 21 total yards on their first two drives. They eventually found their rhythm in the 2nd quarter, engineering an impressive 17 play, 95 yard touchdown drive, that consumed more than 11 minutes of game clock.
Olave was quiet early, managing only one catch for seven yards, through the first 55 minutes. But with the squad trailing 17-10 late in the 4th quarter, he and Tyler Shough would find their rhythm. The duo connect on three straight passes for gains of 17,18, and 16 yards, before Olave capped off the drive with a 12 yard touchdown reception to tie the game. He also hauled a crucial 15 yard reception on their final possession, putting the offense into Carolina territory, and setting up the game winning drive in a 20-17 victory.
Although he got off to a slow start, Olave continued to battle, as he played a crucial role in the teams 4th quarter execution. "It was tough. I'm not gonna let my emotions, or anything get in the way of the flow of the game, that's just how the game was going,” Olave said after the game.
Chris Olave stays confident leading Saints to clutch victory
Chris Olave finished the contest with 6 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown, his huge 4th quarter performance earned him an overall PFF grade of a 70.4. His clutch catches were instrumental in keeping the team in the game and setting up a game winning drive. His ability to stay confident despite a quiet start highlighted why he’s such a reliable target for Tyler Shough. His late game heroics left no doubt about his value to the team’s offense.
As one of the most experienced receivers on a very young receiving corps, Olave is leading by example, staying level headed when things go wrong and consistently starting each play ready to contribute. “Just be ready when the opportunity presents itself, that's what we preach. So I'm glad we did that in the fourth quarter and came back and won." Olave told reporters.
Olave will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming matchup against the New York Jets and throughout the final three games of the season, aiming to surpass the 1,000 receiving yards mark for the third time in four seasons. The team will be counting on his playmaking ability as the aim to continue improving and push for a strong finish to the season.