Saints host Jets in Week 16 as Shough leads offense in rough season
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough helps New Orleans look for momentum against a winless Jets squad in a game with draft positioning on the line
New Orleans hosts the New York Jets in Week 16 as both clubs try to finish the season on a more competitive note. The Saints are 4-10 and the Jets are 3-11, leaving draft position as a common backdrop in a game neither team enters with playoff hopes. Oddsmakers have installed New Orleans as a 6.5-point favorite at home, with the over-under set at 40.5 points.
Rookie Tyler Shough has started at quarterback for the Saints since Week 9, guiding the offense through a pair of wins in the last two weeks. He started three of the Saints' four wins this season and has helped stabilize a unit that has otherwise struggled. The Saints average 16.1 points per game, tied for 31st in the NFL, and Shough’s maturation is one of the few bright spots for a New Orleans offense that has been inept at times this season. The Week 16 matchup against the Jets comes at a timely moment for Shough as he continues to gain experience and command of the offense.
On the other side, New York has shown an aggressive, blitz-heavy approach at times, ranking among the ninth-highest blitz rates in the league this season. Yet that pressure has not translated into sustained results, as the Jets have the second-fewest sacks in the NFL. Their pass defense has also been unable to generate interceptions, with the team not recording a pick through 14 games — the longest streak of its kind in NFL history. Over the past two games, New York has allowed 82 points, including 48 to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, a stretch that has underscored the unit’s recent struggles while the offense has remained inconsistent.
Both teams are mired in challenging seasons, but New Orleans appears to carry some momentum into Week 16 with Shough at the helm, while the Jets are focused on minimizing damage and attempting to finish the season on a high note. Betting context surrounding the game reflects the broader sentiment: the New York Post’s betting guidance highlights the Saints as the likely over-producer, projecting the Saints to exceed 23.5 points in the game (over 23.5 points at -106, FanDuel).
The matchup illustrates two teams that have faced difficulties sustaining offense or creating game-changing plays, yet it also offers a glimpse into potential development for the Saints if Shough continues to grow into the role. For Jets fans, the game serves as a data point in a longer-term rebuild, with the defense showing aggression but lacking the finishing touches needed to flip field position or deter scoring drives. Kickoff will provide the latest read on whether Shough’s midseason surge translates into a meaningful late-season trend or remains one of the season’s hopeful flashes.