The New Orleans Saints triumphed over the New York Jets with a score of 29-6 on December 21, 2025, in a match that featured a stunning 38-yard touchdown pass from Taysom Hill to Chris Olave. This unexpected play, which could potentially mark Hill's last appearance at home in a Saints uniform, might have cost kicker Charlie Smyth a chance to set a franchise record in what was only his fourth game in the NFL.
Smyth, a rookie kicker from Northern Ireland who is still new to American football, expressed his excitement for Hill and the significance of the moment."I was super pumped up for him," he said, reflecting on the importance of the play.
Olave had a remarkable performance, catching touchdown passes from both Hill and starting quarterback Tyler Shough. In addition to this, Smyth tied a club record by successfully kicking five field goals—contributing to the Saints’ third consecutive victory and improving their record to 5-10.
Hill, visibly emotional after the game, acknowledged coach Kellen Moore's efforts in providing him with more playing opportunities under the current circumstances. "I don't know what the future holds for me, but it was a special day for me and my family," he stated.
Having transitioned from quarterback to a versatile offensive and special teams player, the 35-year-old Hill accumulated 116 total yards, including 42 rushing and 36 receiving yards, alongside his scoring pass in the fourth quarter. His receiving yardage brought his career total to 1,002 yards, making him the first player in the Super Bowl era to surpass 1,000 yards each in passing, rushing, and receiving.
On the defensive side, Cameron Jordan made significant contributions with two sacks, bringing his career total to 130. This achievement places him ahead of Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson in terms of all-time sack leaders, now ranking 17th in NFL history. With eight and a half sacks this season, Jordan has consistently performed well, achieving at least eight sacks in nine different seasons. Despite not having a contract for next year, he affirmed his commitment to the team, stating, "I've never seen myself not being in black and gold... I've always wanted to be here unless you don’t want me."
Tyler Shough, who was drafted 40th overall in the previous spring, threw for 308 yards, marking his first 300-yard game as a starter, and improving his record to 4-3. "We’re super proud of what we’re putting together," Shough commented, acknowledging that while the season hasn’t gone exactly as planned, the team remained resilient.
Meanwhile, the Jets, now with a 3-12 record, suffered their third consecutive loss and fifth in six games, with rookie quarterback Brady Cook making his second start. Coach Aaron Glenn indicated that they plan to continue evaluating Cook as their starting quarterback. "He gives us the best chance to win," Glenn asserted, adding that Cook’s performance would reflect his potential moving forward.
Cook faced a challenging game, getting sacked eight times and acknowledging his role in the pressure: "At the end of the day, I need to get the ball out." He also lost a fumble when Nathan Shepherd tackled him, leading to Smyth's 50-yard field goal, and was intercepted by rookie safety Jonas Sanker during a crucial fourth-down attempt, which resulted in another field goal for Smyth. Cook’s statistics showed he completed 22 of 35 passes for 188 yards. After the game, he expressed disappointment at the outcome, saying, "We came here prepared, ready to win this game, and we didn’t do it. All we can do now is go back to work. We have two games left, and we need to play for each other and fight for each other and find a way to get a win."
Both teams faced difficulties in maintaining drives throughout the first half, although they managed to reach field goal range on several occasions. Jets kicker Nick Folk successfully converted kicks from 29 and 36 yards. On the other hand, Smyth scored from distances of 35, 49, and 36 yards, granting the Saints a 9-6 advantage, with one of his field goals coming after a clever fake punt where Hill gained two yards on fourth down. Smyth also attempted a 61-yard field goal as time expired in the first half but missed to the left.
Notably, the Jets set an NFL record by going 15 consecutive games without an interception.
Injury updates revealed that Jets defensive lineman Jay Tufele sustained a foot injury during the first half, while Saints tight end Foster Moreau limped off after injuring his ankle in the third quarter. Defensive tackle Bryan Bresee also hurt his knee but managed to walk off the field with minimal assistance.
Looking ahead, the Jets are set to host the New England Patriots next Sunday, while the Saints will visit the Tennessee Titans on the same day.
