The connection between Devaughn Vele and Tyler Shough was the driving force behind the New Orleans Saints nearly pulling off the comeback victory against the Miami Dolphins. Vele caught every single one of his passes along the way. That's something no Saints receiver since Michael Thomas has done while receiving seven or more targets.
The New Orleans Saints offense took a while to find its rhythm against the Miami Dolphins. After completely being shut out in the first half and managing only 53 total yards, the Saints mounted a late push but ultimately fell short in their comeback attempt 21-17.
The Saints had success moving the ball down the field in the 2nd half, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough found his rhythm in the second half, repeatedly connecting with wide receiver Devaughn Vele to spark the offense. Their chemistry helped keep the comeback hopes alive.
Devaughn Vele's big performance highlights Saints investment
Vele was one of the main reasons why the Saints were even able to mount a second half comeback. He hauled in five receptions of 10 plus yards and moved the chains five times. His breakout performance in New Orleans showed exactly why the team brought him in.
The Saints acquired Vele in a preseason trade from the Denver Broncos, sending a 4th and 7th round pick to Denver last August. He showed promise as a rookie, posting 41 receptions for 475 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, despite that early production, his snaps would eventually decline due to a crowded wide receiver room and the emergence of other playmakers.
Similar to his final stretch in Denver, Vele didn’t see the field often in his early tenure with the Saints. It wasn’t until the Saints sent wide receiver Rasheed Shaheed away to the Seattle Seahawks, for him to see significant action. His big game against Miami highlights the potential the organization saw in him and reinforces why he should continue to see more action moving forward.