By Larry Holder, Zac Jackson and Amos Morale III
Saints’ jack-of-all-trades Taysom Hill produced a career afternoon to power New Orleans to a 35-14 win against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Hill rushed for a career-high 138 yards and matched a career best with three touchdowns on just seven carries. He also added 50 receiving yards on a career-high eight receptions.
The veteran’s outstanding game, along with an efficient performance from quarterback Derek Carr (129.6 passer rating) helped the Saints go to 2-0 under interim coach Darren Rizzi. The Saints (4-7) fired head coach Dennis Allen in Week 10 moving Rizzi to the interim role.
Jameis Winston brought some fireworks against his former Saints teammates. The Browns quarterback threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns, including an 89-yard score to Jerry Jeudy, in the losing effort.
The full Taysom experience
There’s not much more Hill could have written down on a stats sheet. So many of them served as potential game-changers, one way or another. Let’s see if I can fit them all in:
- Three rushing TDs (10, 33 and 75 yards)
- Seven carries, 138 rushing yards
- Eight receptions on 10 targets, 50 receiving yards
- One lost fumble on a reception inside the Browns 10-yard line
- One interception on an ill-advised deep ball
- One kickoff return, 42 yards
- One complete pass, 18 yards
Sometimes you wonder if the Saints use Hill too much when he makes mistakes. Then there are the numerous occasions as to why the Saints continue to work him into the lineup at every offensive skill position and on special teams. It’s too much to ask for Hill to produce even half as well as his game against Browns on a weekly basis. The fact the 34-year-old Hill has these types of games in him, though, gives the team a fighter’s chance to claw back into this season. — Larry Holder, NFL senior writer
Can the Saints make a run?
Is it too little, too late for the Saints to make a run this season? They’re now 2-0 under Rizzi, making them 4-7 heading into the bye week. One thing is certain, though, that the Saints are putting up a much bigger fight under Rizzi than under Allen, who the Saints fired two weeks ago. You can make a case that the Saints at least have a chance in each of their final six games: vs. Rams, at Giants, vs. Commanders, at Packers, vs. Raiders, at Buccaneers. This might not be the best scenario for the crowd hoping for the Saints to gain a better draft pick by losing out the rest of the way. But this is great news for those hoping to pay attention to a watchable Saints product the rest of the season. — Holder
New game, same story
The Browns created some big plays and certainly had some chances, but their first game after their bye week was a lot like the others. The Browns had tackling problems, failed to cash in chances and consistently left Saints’ pass-catchers either completely uncovered or with lanes to advance after the catch. Hill ran wild (and caught plenty of passes, too), making it fair to question the Browns’ defensive preparation. The Saints averaged 8.5 yards per play before the final clock-killing stretch, and too often Carr had easy targets open in big spots. The game was already over before Hill’s 75-yard touchdown run in the last three minutes, but the way Hill ran totally alone up the sideline summed things up for the Browns. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
At least the offense looks better
Jeudy had a big day, obviously highlighted by his 89-yard touchdown catch late in the first quarter. Jeudy had his first 100-yard receiving day with the Browns and his first since 2022. Winston threw it well for most of the day and the offense was far from the Browns’ biggest problem. The Browns gave up on their season by sticking with Deshaun Watson in October before Watson’s injury. And though it’s not like going to Winston earlier would have sent the Browns to the Super Bowl, Winston’s throws are creating chances for the Browns’ wide receivers to make plays. Elijah Moore made a highlight-reel catch for a 30-yard touchdown in the third quarter. — Jackson
Special teams woes evident
The 2-8 Browns have lots of problems, obviously. But their kicking problem cost them a chance to make things more interesting here. Officially, Dustin Hopkins only missed two field goals. But he also missed a third before a penalty late in the second quarter, and his 27-yard miss on the final play of the first half is inexcusable. Hopkins signed a three-year extension in July, and now he stands as another example of aggressive spending leading to poor results for a Browns’ roster that’s the most expensive in NFL history. The Browns ran out of gas late in this game in all phases, and the sloppiness of the special teams are a part of the frustration with seven games left in a lost season. — Jackson
Required reading
(Photo: Derick E. Hingle / Getty Images)
