NEW ORLEANS (Oct. 5, 2025) – The streak is over in the Big Easy. The New Orleans Saints captured their long-awaited first victory of the Kellen Moore era, defeating the New York Giants 26-14 on Sunday at the Caesars Superdome behind explosive plays from Spencer Rattler, Rashid Shaheed, and a relentless Saints defense that forced five turnovers.

It had been nearly 11 months since New Orleans last celebrated inside its home locker room, but the familiar sounds of victory returned as “Club Dub” came back to life — flashing lights, fog, and music marking a long-overdue moment for a young team searching for identity.

Explosive Connection Sparks the Offense

Quarterback Spencer Rattler, starting his 11th career game, delivered his most complete performance yet. Early in the second quarter, with the Saints trailing 14-3, Rattler dropped back and found wide receiver Rashid Shaheed streaking down the right sideline for an 87-yard touchdown — the Saints’ longest offensive play since 2016.

Rattler immediately sprinted downfield to join the celebration.

“Probably the fastest I ran all game,” Rattler joked afterward. “Those plays create energy for the whole team, the whole crowd — and we want more of them.”

The connection reignited the Superdome crowd and swung momentum sharply in New Orleans’ favor. Shaheed finished with four receptions for 114 yards, while Rattler completed 225 yards passing, avoiding turnovers and sacks for the first time all season.

“It feels good to get that first win,” Rattler said. “It was a team win. The defense played great. The offensive line was elite.”

Howden’s Scoop-and-Score Seals It

The defense provided the knockout blow early in the fourth quarter. With New York driving deep in Saints territory, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee stripped running back Cam Skattebo at the 12-yard line. Safety Jordan Howden scooped up the loose ball at the 14 and raced 86 yards for a touchdown, igniting a raucous Superdome.

“It was a game-changing play,” head coach Kellen Moore said. “Jordan’s effort summed up everything we’ve been preaching — finish plays, play fast, and believe.”

Howden, who finished with three tackles and a fumble return for a score, said his only thought once he saw the ball loose was simple:

“Just run — run for my life,” he laughed.

The defensive touchdown gave New Orleans a 23-14 cushion, and kicker Blake Grupe later added his third field goal of the afternoon to make it 26-14.

Giants’ Mistakes Prove Costly

The Giants (1-4) moved the ball effectively at times but were undone by five turnovers — three from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and two fumbles. Dart threw two fourth-quarter interceptions to rookie cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, ending any hopes of a comeback.

“We hurt ourselves,” Dart said. “We just kind of gave this game away.”

Dart did manage 202 passing yards and two touchdowns, both to tight end Theo Johnson, but his miscues overshadowed an otherwise encouraging start.

“That’s a tough, resilient team over there,” Moore said of the Giants. “But our guys responded when we had to. We made the plays late that we hadn’t been making earlier this season.”

A New Chapter for Kellen Moore

For Kellen Moore, the win marked his first as an NFL head coach and a symbolic step forward for a franchise looking to rebuild. The 37-year-old coach, who won a Super Bowl last season as Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator, credited his players’ perseverance through a rough first month.

“This is a special group,” Moore said. “They’ve hung in through some challenging times. Today, they earned that celebration.”

The Saints’ victory also snapped an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season. New Orleans improved to 1-4, while the Giants dropped to 1-4, both teams now trying to climb out of early-season holes.

New Orleans leaned heavily on balance and execution — controlling tempo, winning the turnover battle, and making explosive plays when it mattered most. The Saints outgained New York 332-294, and crucially, committed zero turnovers.

The Road Ahead

The Saints will look to build on their first win when they travel to face Tampa Bay next Sunday in a divisional showdown. For a team that spent the first month searching for rhythm and belief, Sunday’s win offered a much-needed reset.

As fog and music filled the Superdome locker room postgame, Moore smiled and nodded.

“We’ve been waiting for this one,” he said. “Now let’s make it a habit.”

Final Score: Saints 26, Giants 14