1 week Ago
New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) runs the ball during the first half against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Staff photo by Brett Duke, The Times-Picayune) STAFF PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (7) scores on a 10 yard TD run as Cleveland Browns safety Juan Thornhill (1) defends during the first half of the game at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Nov.
17, 2024. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com ) STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save For the New Orleans Saints, it was fitting Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns came down to Taysom Hill versus Jameis Winston.
The two faced off in training camp for the Saints’ starting quarterback job in 2021, with Winston beating out Hill to be Drew Brees’ initial successor. But much has changed in the last three years. Winston was at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday as a member of the Cleveland Browns.
Hill, still with the Saints, is no longer a full-time quarterback. But this time, Hill emerged as the victor. Hill’s 33-yard, go-ahead touchdown helped the Saints prevail in a 35-14 win over Winston and the Browns.
Winston, who signed with Cleveland in March after four seasons with the Saints, threw for 395 yards and completed 65.2% percent of his passes, but was a bit too erratic for the Browns to pull off the victory. Hill, by contrast, was featured heavily for the first time this season.
The 34-year-old had 15 touches, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak seemed intent to utilize Hill’s diverse skill set as much as possible. Hill didn’t always come through — he threw an interception and coughed up a fumble — but he still delivered when it mattered. He accounted for three of New Orleans’ five touchdowns and finished with 206 yards from scrimmage.
On New Orleans’ opening drive, Kubiak dialed up a play that saw quarterback Derek Carr pitch Hill the ball on a reverse – and then Hill found wide receiver Kevin Austin open for an 18-yard gain. From there, Hill was used as a receiver and a rusher. After catching a 3-yard pass from Carr, Hill took a direct snap at quarterback and kept the ball on a zone-read for a 10-yard touchdown.
Kubiak used Hill early and often — but to varying degrees of success. New Orleans’ second drive stalled out around midfield, which led to Winston hitting wide receiver Jerry Jeudy on a one-play, 89-yard touchdown drive. The score marked the seventh time the Saints defense had allowed a gain of 50-plus yards this season, a league high.
But the Saints still had the lead: A New Orleans penalty caused the Browns to go for the 2-point attempt, which led to a Winston throwaway. Still, after the Browns’ score, the Saints’ usage of Hill cost them. Hill underthrew Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a deep bomb that Browns cornerback Denzel Ward picked off.
Fortunately for New Orleans, the Saints would answer back. The defense forced a three-and-out and Carr found a wide-open Valdes-Scantling in the middle of the field that ultimately resulted in a 71-yard touchdown. It was another explosive play for Valdes-Scantling, the veteran who was signed last month and had two touchdowns in last week’s win over the Atlanta Falcons.
But the Saints missed a chance to put the game away — even as Cleveland gave them plenty of opportunities to do so. First, Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins missed a 51-yarder after an 11-play, 41-yard drive. But on New Orleans’ ensuing series, the Saints drove all the way to the redzone only for Hill to fumble at the 5-yard line.
The Browns recovered with 1:41 left and almost tied the game — if not for another set of comical errors from Hopkins. Hopkins attempted two field goals on the drive, both of which were disasters. His miss from 32 was negated by a holding penalty on Saints defensive end Payton Turner, but neither the Browns nor Hopkins could do anything with the new set of downs.
With three second left in the half, Hopkins again trotted out – this time for a 27-yarder – and pushed his kick wide left. Whatever momentum from Hopkins’ missed kicks generated, however, didn’t translate to the second half. The Saints were forced to punt on their opening drive in the third, and the Browns went New Orleans through the air.
On an eight-play, 92-yard drive, Winston was particularly sharp as he completed passes of 20, 4, 11 and 30 yards – the latter of which resulted in a touchdown for receiver Elijah Moore. The Browns then tied up the game with a 2-point conversion to tight end David Njoku. But the Saints rallied — thanks in large part to Hill.
Rizzi chose to keep the offense out on fourth-and-1 from the 32-yard line rather than kick a 51-yard field goal. That aggressiveness was rewarded when Hill bullied his way through the line of scrimmage — breaking free for a clear path to the end zone. Getting another chance, Winston couldn't come through.
Saints defensive end Carl Granderson recorded a huge 11-yard sack on third down to force a Browns punt. Dante Pettis then gave the Saints great field position with a 49-yard punt return that was initially ruled a touchdown before officials determined he stepped out of bounds at the 35-yard line. The Saints finally put the game away after that.
Carr found tight end Juwan Johnson for a 1-yard touchdown to make it 28-14, and Hill then ripped off a 75-yard touchdown for good measure..
