Postgame LIVE Reaction: Saints Win Overtime Thriller Over Browns

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The New Orleans Saints win their first home game of the season with a 23-16 win over the Cleveland Browns.

Make sure to follow along for all of the reactions from head coach Kellen Moore, quarterback Tyler Shough and other players as well as you, the fans!

The New Orleans Saints (3-5) earned their first home win of the season, beating the Cleveland Browns (5-4) 23-22 in overtime at Caesars Superdome.

After three field-goal-dominated quarters, the game erupted with 20 fourth-quarter points. Cleveland took a 13-9 lead on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to Concepcion with 5:21 left. New Orleans answered 50 seconds later with a 2-yard touchdown run by Audric Estime—set up by a 33-yard pass from Tyler Shough to Chris Olave. Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt hit a 51-yard field goal as regulation expired to force overtime tied at 16-16.

In overtime, Shough threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson with 4:17 remaining. Cleveland responded with a 39-yard touchdown pass from Sanders to Harold Fannin Jr., but after a holding penalty on their two-point conversion attempt, Sanders’ pass fell incomplete to secure the Saints’ victory.

Shough finished with 265 passing yards, a touchdown, and 51 rushing yards. Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns. Estime, re-signed days before kickoff after being cut in training camp, added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.

Kellen Moore Reacts to First Win of the Season

On the Saints' Performance and Running Game

Q: What was your overall assessment of the team's performance coming out of the bye week?

Moore: "We spent all week just talking about, hey, we're coming off a bye week. It's all going to be about response, eyes forward, moving forward, what's in front of us. And that's all you've got to focus on.

"Proud of our guys, the way they battled. Obviously, we lost the turnover battle, and that was a huge indication of where this game went, but our guys battled, and really proud of them."

Q: What did you think about the running game, particularly the addition of Will Sherman to the rotation?

Moore: "Obviously, had a few different things that we were adjusting, and so putting Will in, I thought it gave us something there.

"I thought Audric ran really hard. I thought Alvin had some really good runs in there as well. Timely runs, especially late in the game. I thought he did an excellent job of getting some dirty runs there.

"I thought our guys played a physical brand of football. We've got to sustain that, and I thought that was a good thing for our football team."

Q: How impactful were the changes to the running game following the bye week?

Moore: "I think there were some positives in there. Again, every week's going to be its own challenge, so we've got to continue to evolve and get better.

"But I thought the physicality in which we ran the football, downhill runs, particularly against the structure in which those guys play, I thought there were some positives there."

On Audric Estimé's Return

Q: Did you anticipate Audric Estimé playing such a significant role after joining the team earlier in the week?

Moore: "Once he went to practice on Wednesday and basically recalled everything, we really had no expectation of potentially — we didn't even say he was going to be up for the game necessarily when we claimed him.

"We just brought him in, and I thought he had a couple really physical runs at Wednesday's practice. Kind of set the tone. Seemed like he knew every single assignment. He was dialed in.

"It became a no-brainer to me that, all right, let's roll. Let's get him ready to go. I thought his juice and physicality were real."

Q: Did you get a sense of how badly Estimé wanted to return to New Orleans?

Moore: "I think he'll be a great one to ask those questions. He did break the team down about being back home.

"There's a business side of this thing that's always a challenge, and when you lose guys like Audric, you're kind of sitting there, 'Oh man, our whole team loves that guy.'

"We had an opportunity to bring him back. It was a no-brainer. I thought the way he broke that team down, it's a special locker room for him."

Q: How impressive was Estimé's ability to contribute immediately?

Moore: "It's incredible, to be honest. I don't know how many guys can do that, especially for the amount of plays that he played.

"He's a special person, special player. I think our whole locker room's fired up that he's back in there."

On Tyler Shough and the Offense's Late-Game Success

Q: What changed offensively during the touchdown drives late in regulation and overtime?

Moore: "Two really big drives there. Obviously, we were scoring points. We unfortunately did not handle the plus range and red zone and those sorts of things. We missed our opportunities there.

"But the two-minute drive right before the end of regulation, big plays. C.O. [Chris Olave] on the catch. Incredible throw and catch there.

"I thought Alvin had a really good route out of the backfield, and we were able to finish it in the end zone.

"Then a team comes back, they get a field goal, game's in overtime, and again, you've got to respond. You've got to reset.

"I thought our guys did a good job of just playing really clean football there. Tyler getting completions, the run game, I thought it was really good tied in together."

Q: Tyler Shough has now led several late-game scoring drives. Do you believe quarterbacks can have a clutch gene?

Moore: "I think there's an emotional stability and ability to take away all the things that happened in the past and be present in the moment.

"I think Tyler does a phenomenal job of that. I thought our team did a phenomenal job of that as the game went on.

"There's opportunities we're going to learn from. There's going to be red-zone things that obviously we want to do better and score down there because it's going to be a different game if that's the case.

"But to clean-slate it and say, 'Hey, we've got the ball with a chance to go take the lead late in the game,' that's all you can ask for.

"He did an awesome job."

Q: How important was Shough's ability to use his legs against Cleveland's man coverage?

Moore: "I think that's a potential anytime you play a team with man. They're defending players. They're not eyes on the quarterback.

"If you can get out of the pocket, you're going to have opportunities to run, and I thought Tyler did a good job of that."

On the Importance of the Victory

Q: What does a victory like this mean for the team?

Moore: "The NFL, it's tough. All these teams are talented. There's good players on every team, and you've got to compete every single opportunity you have.

"Just proud of our guys to stay with this and be resilient.

"I think that's the type of stuff you need because, again, moving forward, these games are going to continue to get challenging, and we've got to keep responding the right way.

"Just proud of the way our guys fought all the way to the end."

Q: How important could this victory be for the team's confidence moving forward?

Moore: "Again, eyes forward. This was all our focus was. Hey, we're where we are coming out of the bye week. Let's respond the right way.

"Found a way to get this one in, and we've got more opportunities ahead of ourselves.

"We've just got to focus on the task at hand, one step at a time, and this will be a fun journey."

Q: How gratifying was it to earn the team's first home victory of the season?

Moore: "Obviously, this place is special. Having a chance to play in the Caesars Superdome is always a special opportunity for our guys.

"They know that responsibility. It was awesome to feel the energy, especially late in that game.

"We're going to have another opportunity here next Sunday, and we'll just keep this thing going."

On the Saints' Defensive Performance

Q: What impressed you about the defense holding Cleveland's offense in check for much of the first three quarters?

Moore: "I thought relentless effort. Make them earn it all.

"I thought the run game was a very important part of that thing.

"They were able to make some plays downfield, obviously, but I thought our pass rush was just relentless.

"I thought it was awesome by those guys. Showed up all the way to the last play of the game."

Q: What did you think about Kaden Elliss and Carl Granderson's performances?

Moore: "Game ball guys.

"Kaden, it's just awesome to have him back. He's a general. He leads this whole thing. His versatility is incredible.

"And then Granderson's relentlessness. Even the sacks, but even when he got Shedeur [Sanders] down on that scramble, he's going to run for a first down, and he's able to get his foot.

"He's just playing a really awesome brand of football."

Q: What stood out about the defense's goal-line stand at the end of the game?

Moore: "Big plays. The whole sequence, I think, not just the last play, but the sequence there.

"Again, physical football, the response, never let up. Just keep looking at the opportunity right in front of you."

Q: Although the Saints lost the turnover battle, the defense forced two turnovers on downs. Do you view those similarly to takeaways?

Moore: "I think in reflection you do. Stats don't all the time view it that way. Turnover margin's all about the ball.

"But I thought those were big-time stops.

"One obviously an unfortunate one where we get a penalty on a punt return opportunity, and then we got a stop there.

"That was huge by our defense because obviously we were getting the ball back, and now we had to play another hard down."

Q: What allowed the Saints to limit Cleveland to 2.8 yards per carry?

Moore: "Team defense, physicality, everyone playing together.

"Again, in the run game, it just takes one or two plays, and it changes the entire statistical outlook.

"You've got to play really sound football every single down, and I thought that's what our guys did."

Q: Are you concerned about the explosive plays Cleveland generated late in the game?

Moore: "It'll be a lesson for us. We'll get to learn and dig into that.

"Obviously, they made some plays. They do have some really talented young skill players that are going to play in this league for a long time.

"They're really good players. They won a couple downs, and you've just got to respond the right way."

On Shedeur Sanders' Comments and Performance

Q: There was a report that you shared Shedeur Sanders' comments with the team. Did those remarks provide additional motivation?

Moore: "No, I think our guys gather all the information. They're obviously aware of that stuff.

"I thought Shedeur played a good game. I thought he did a good job.

"Obviously, we liked him coming out of the draft, through the draft process, and he's going to be a good quarterback in this league.

"I thought Tyler did a nice job. He responded really well.

"Those are two young quarterbacks that are going to help this league for a long time."

On Jordyn Tyson's Return and Rookie Mistakes

Q: What was the plan for rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in his return to action?

Moore: "Again, Jordyn was able to play and contribute for our team.

"We'll just continue to build that role as we go.

"He played a few weeks in training camp, and he's missed a lot of time.

"But what he's put into this to put himself in position to help contribute for this team, he's going to have plenty of opportunities moving forward.

"I was excited to see him out there playing football again."

Q: What did you think about Tyson bouncing back after his costly fumble near the goal line?

Moore: "Again, opportunity to respond, just like we've talked about.

"He's able to contribute and make some positive plays there, and to learn from the ball security there.

"That's a big-time play by their defense. They're going to attack the football on the goal line.

"That's what this league does better than ever before.

"We're going to have to protect the football, but he'll get to learn from that."

Q: What was your message to the rookies following their costly turnovers?

Moore: "Again, the plays are not coming back. We fumbled. We've got to move on. We've got to get to the next play.

"Obviously, it's going to be a lesson learned as our week progresses and the way we review this.

"We've got to secure the football better, and obviously we saw the impact this game had on it.

"One in the red zone and one on a punt return that obviously gave them an extended drive opportunity there."

On Injuries, Personnel Decisions and Special Teams

Q: Do you have an update on center Erik McCoy's biceps injury?

Moore: "Biceps. We'll get some more information. They'll do all the testing tomorrow, so we'll see what it is."

Q: What went into the decision to give Jordan Howden additional defensive snaps at safety?

Moore: "I think he'd earned some opportunities just to pop in there and play some snaps.

"I thought the last few times that he's had an opportunity to contribute on defense, he's had a positive impact.

"Again, we're just looking for different roles and opportunities for these guys."

Q: What did you think about kicker Charlie Smyth's performance?

Moore: "I thought Charlie did some good things.

"Again, we had to settle for some field goals there. He was able to make some of those and put ourselves in position all the way to the end.

"Happy for Charlie."

Q: What went into the decision to waive running back Kendre Miller? Was it strictly a numbers situation?

Moore: "It's purely numbers. It's purely the numbers and the business side of this.

"I love Kendre. He's been awesome for us.

"Just as the running back room and the depth of that room has kind of transpired, and Audric's come back, we just felt like that was the best decision for our football team."

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