Slow starts for the New Orleans Saints offense this year have been a constant source of conversation because it's been a recurring issue dating back to last season. It was one of the two biggest issues surrounding this team a year ago, and Kellen Moore has been heavily criticized for the lack of improvement in that department this year. The other major issue was red zone offense, but that has been much better, in large part to Tyler Shough.
The Saints have gone from being the worst team in the league inside the 20 to being one of the most efficient. The Saints scored touchdowns on just 44.4% of their red zone drives last year, which was even less frequent than the New York Jets. This year they're punching the ball into the end zone on 84.2% of their red zone drives, second to just the San Francisco 49ers.
From a raw number standpoint, that's 20 touchdowns on 45 attempts all season long in 2025. This year, the Saints have already scored 16 red zone touchdowns despite only 19 attempts. It's easily the biggest turnaround for the Saints so far in 2026.
Tyler Shough is the best QB in the NFL in the red zone
There’s two critical missions in the red zone. Score a touchdown and at the very least avoid turnovers. Shough has executed those missions better than anyone since entering the league.
Shough has yet to, hard knock on wood, throw an interception in the red zone. Meanwhile, he’s thrown 17 touchdown passes. It should come as no surprise that his 0% interception percentage is best in the league, seeing that you can’t get lower.
The 17 touchdown passes gives Shough a 39.5 touchdown rate, which is also the best in the league. No other quarterback is scoring touchdowns or preventing interceptions at a better clip than the Saints quarterback.
As a cherry on top, Shough’s 74.4% completion percentage is better than the field. It’s difficult to find three stats that matter in the red zone more than completion percentage, interceptions and touchdown. Shough being the best at all of them speaks volumes.
This year alone, Shough has been at his best in that range. He has 12 passing touchdowns on the year, and 10 of them have come inside the 20 yard line.
These things have a trickle down effect on the team as well. The team has been much better this year, and you saw them start to put the pieces together last year. It's no coincidence that those team improvements aligned with the change at quarterback.
When your quarterback is playing that well in the critical area, you're typically playing good football.
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