New Orleans Saints trailed 14-6 during halftime, but the offense came alive, scoring 18 second-half points and converted 8 of 15 third downs. Tyler Shough was steady when the game mattered the most. The Saints quarterback completed 27 of 34 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown, then scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 1-yard fourth-down sneak with 1:28 remaining.
Baltimore scored 14 points in the first half but managed only three after halftime. Chase Young recorded 1.5 sacks of Jackson, while Julian Blackmon picked off Jackson with 21 seconds left to finish the win. Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown and Rashod Bateman caught a 22-yard touchdown pass, while Bateman finished with seven catches for 88 yards.
Here are the grades that Pro Football Focus has awarded the Saints players after their week 2 victory.
Chase Young — 88.5 grade
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Young led all Saints defenders and also made the highest defensive mark in that category. He finished with seven tackles and three sacks in the PFF chart, while the Saints’ official recap credited him with 1.5 sacks of Jackson. Young’s pressure was especially important against Jackson. The Saints needed disciplined rush lanes against one of the league’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Young said afterward that the front and coverage had to work together, and New Orleans’ defense held Jackson without a touchdown pass while forcing his late interception.
Juwan Johnson — 80.7 grade
Johnson was New Orleans’ highest-graded offensive player. He posted a 77.5 passing grade, 72.5 pass-blocking grade and 71.3 run-blocking grade. His biggest play came late: a 26-yard catch-and-run on third-and-8 moved the Saints to the Ravens’ 4-yard line and set up the winning touchdown.
Chris Olave — 78.7 grade
Olave produced eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. His 22-yard touchdown reception with 9:42 left in the game pulled New Orleans within a point before the Saints tied the game with a two-point conversion. PFF gave him a 79.8 passing grade, matching the impact he made as the Saints opened up their passing game in the second half.
Other Notable PFF Grades for the Saints
Kaden Elliss — 73.9 grade.
Elliss was second among Saints defenders in the supplied PFF grades. His 82.5 pass-rushing grade was particularly strong, just behind Young’s mark. He finished with four tackles, two quarterback hits and two stops. His coverage grade of 53.6 pulled down his overall mark, but his pressure work was a major part of his performance.
Tyler Shough — 73.1 grade
Shough’s PFF grade reflects a quarterback who improved as the afternoon progressed. He completed 27 of 34 throws for 252 yards and a touchdown, added 23 rushing yards and finished the game with the winning rushing score. The Saints also converted several critical third downs against Baltimore’s pressure packages.
Julian Blackmon — 62.4 grade
Blackmon’s overall PFF grade was not among New Orleans’ highest, yet his final play mattered more than the number. He intercepted Jackson with 21 seconds remaining to end Baltimore’s last serious chance.
The Saints also got strong defensive grades from Quincy Riley (70.0), Pete Werner (68.8) and Anfernee Jennings (73.0) from PFF. Etienne Jr. earned a 62.6 offensive grade and converted the two-point try that tied the game at 17. Carl Granderson posted a 72.6 defensive grade, while his special-teams performance earned a 93.5 grade,
