Charlie Smyth tied a franchise record with five field goals, Chris Olave caught two touchdown passes from different quarterbacks and the New Orleans defense didn’t allow a touchdown as the Saints defeated the visiting New York Jets 29-6 on Sunday afternoon.
Tyler Shough had season highs of 32 completions, 49 attempts and 308 yards. The rookie threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Olave, who finished with 10 catches for a season-best 148 yards.
The Saints (5-10) have won three straight games and are 4-3 since Shough became the starter.
Rookie Brady Cook made his second start for the Jets (3-12) and completed 22 of 35 passes for 188 yards with one interception. He was sacked eight times for 57 yards.
Neither team was able to find the end zone for nearly three quarters until Shough and Olave connected for their touchdown, giving New Orleans a 16-6 edge at the end of the third quarter. That completed a 12-play, 93-yard drive.
Rookie Jonas Sanker intercepted Cook and returned it to the Jets’ 44, leading to Smyth’s record-tying 39-yard field goal with 5:17 remaining. Taysom Hill threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Olave to complete the scoring with 1:54 left.
In addition to his 38 yards passing, Hill rushed 12 times for 42 yards and caught four passes from Shough for 36 yards.
Hill fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and Qwan’tez Stiggers recovered for the Jets at the New Orleans 37. New York stalled at the 11 and Nick Folk kicked a 29-yard field goal.
The Saints drove to Smyth’s 35-yard field goal to forge a tie that held up through the end of the first quarter.
On the second play of the second quarter, Smyth broke the tie by kicking a 49-yard field goal.
Folk’s 36-yarder knotted the score at 6, but Smyth answered with a 36-yarder with 1:31 left in the half. Smyth missed a 61-yarder as time expired, leaving New Orleans with a 9-6 halftime lead.
