The New Orleans Saints finally won their first game in the 2025 season. In the victory, the defense of New Orleans stepped up to the plate, doing something the league hasn't seen in nine years.
In the 26-15 victory, the defense forced five turnovers, all of which were on consecutive drives. That's something that hasn't been done in the National Football League since 2016 by the Kansas City Chiefs, and it's something that the Saints themselves haven't done in over 30 years.
Two of those turnovers were interceptions by second-year cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. Following the game, Saints head coach Kellen Moore said that McKinstry deserves everything coming his way. "He's played some hard downs these first few games of the season," Moore said to the media. "So for him to come up with two big-time interceptions and make a bunch of plays throughout the entire game, I'm so proud of him."
The Saints defense had three thoughts on Sunday: Fumbles, fumbles, and more fumbles
The rest of the turnovers were fumbles that the Saints recovered. The first of which was because of a peanut punch from veteran linebacker Demario Davis, his first forced fumble since week nine of the 2023 season.
Bryan Bresee got in on the fun and forced a fumble that resulted in an 86-yard scoop and score by Safety Jordan Howden. That ties him with former cornerback Tyrone Hughes for the longest in team history, who recorded his own 86-yard fumble return touchdown in 1994. "I saw it bobble behind the line, and then I saw the green grass," Howden said on his touchdown postgame. "I just ran for my life."
Future Hall of Fame edge rusher Cam Jordan even got in on the action, recovering a fumble lost by Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, and only Jaxson Dart. He didn't get as many return yards as Howden did, but it led to some points. Blake Grupe would kick it through the uprights on the following drive,