WEEK 18 FIREWORKS: SAINTS OUTLAST COWBOYS 55–50 TO CLOSE A HISTORIC SEASON

In a 55–50 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Saints delivered one of the most explosive offensive performances of the year, closing the season at 8–9 and punctuating a remarkable turnaround with controlled chaos, elite efficiency, and just enough restraint to avoid unnecessary headlines.

This was not desperation football. This was a team playing loose, confident, and in command.

AN OFFENSIVE PERFORMANCE WITH NO BRAKES

The Saints piled up 556 total yards and seven passing touchdowns, scoring seemingly at will against a Dallas team fighting for playoff positioning.

New Orleans attacked in waves:

• 366 passing yards

• 190 rushing yards

• 70% conversion rate on third down

• Touchdowns from multiple skill groups

Dallas matched blow for blow early, but New Orleans consistently answered—often immediately.

QUARTERBACK ROOM CLINIC

The Saints’ quarterback rotation turned the game into a clinic.

John Mateer

• 10/16, 251 yards

• 5 passing TDs

• 1 rushing TD

• Pulled early by design

Mateer was surgical, efficient, and unmistakably in control. With federal eyes still metaphorically watching and no need to push limits, the coaching staff made the pragmatic decision to step off the accelerator.

Enter Tyler Shough.

Tyler Shough

• 9/9, 115 yards

• 2 passing TDs

• Perfect passer rating (158.3)

Shough did not simply manage the game—he elevated it, maintaining pace while protecting the lead. It was one of the cleanest relief performances of the season.

GROUND GAME SEALS IT

While the passing attack grabbed headlines, the rushing game finished the job.

Kendre Miller

• 20 carries, 138 yards

• 72-yard long run

• Constant second-level pressure

New Orleans controlled the clock when it mattered most, leaning on physical runs to drain time and force Dallas into urgency mode.

SKILL PLAYERS EVERYWHERE

The Saints spread the damage evenly:

• E. Stowers: 2 TDs, consistent red-zone presence

• Rashid Shaheed: 2 TDs, explosive separation

• Tre Palmer & Laviska Shenault Jr.: Big-play contributions

• Multiple receiving touchdowns from five different players

This was not a star-dependent performance. It was a system functioning at full bandwidth.

BENDING, NOT BREAKING

Defensively, the Saints faced a tall task against Dak Prescott, who threw for five touchdowns. Still, New Orleans made the plays that mattered:

• Three takeaways

• Key stops late

• One sack at a crucial moment

It was not dominance—it was situational resilience.

And in a shootout, that is enough.

THE FINAL STATEMENT

The Saints did not stumble into this win. They controlled it, managed it, and finished it with intent.

Pulling the starting quarterback late was not caution—it was confidence. The outcome was decided. The season’s message already delivered.

From 2–8 to 8–9, from forgotten to feared, the Saints closed 2026 the same way they finished games down the stretch:

Scoring freely. Managing smartly. Leaving no doubt.

The record shows eight wins.

The film tells a much bigger story.