Justin Reid’s Breakthrough: Saints Safety Finally Delivers the Game-Changer Fans Demanded
The New Orleans Saints once again failed to secure a second win in a row, falling to the Atlanta Falcons in the Caesars Superdome on Sunday. Safety Justin Reid was responsible for 60% of the Saints' points, making him my player of the game.
There wasn't much to say about the team in the 24-10 loss, however, Reid's pick-six of Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins was an early highlight moment. The seven-year NFL vet was also tied for second on the team in tackles, with seven. Only Demario Davis had more, with 11.
Postgame, Reid said that it felt good scoring in front of the home crowd. However, he credited his teammates and coaches. "It was really a result of my teammates, as a result of coach staley making a great play call, my teammates doing their job - kool-aid helping get the pop-up - I also got a couple of teammates to help with some blocks to help me get there end the end zone as well," he said to the media. "It was just a great defensive snap all the way around and was a very cool moment for me."
Saints S Justin Reid was just a rookie last time he scored a touchdown
It's been a few years since Justin Reid has scored a touchdown in the National Football League. The last time he did, Ariana Grande was topping the charts, and not with anything from the movie Wicked; it was for her song Thank U, Next, which came out in 2018. Back then, Reid was still a rookie with the Houston Texans.
The Sunday afternoon touchdown was his first interception of the 2025 season, as well as the Saints defense's first touchdown of the season. Now Reid is just one behind cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry for most INTs on the year. Fellow safety Jonas Sanker also has a single interception this year, along with cornerbacks Alontae Taylor and Quincy Riley.
Reid's pick six is also the first interception return for a touchdown the Saints had was via Tyrann Mathieu in 2023 versus the New England Patriots. Ironic seeing that Reid has a history of following Mathieu. First to the Texans, then to the Chiefs, then the Saints and now Reid has came right after Mathieu in this specific stat.
Raiders Wake Up to Lockett’s Value - Titans Were Ahead of the Curve
The Tennessee Titans made the decision to release veteran wide receiver Tyler Lockett in October. Lockett had been totally ineffective and unproductive in seven games, recording just 10 receptions for 70 yards and zero touchdowns. His release paved the way for rookie Chimere Dike to play more snaps on offense, and Dike has taken full advantage of that opportunity.
Lockett quickly signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. It was an opportunity for him to reunite with head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith, who he previously spent time with in Seattle. Lockett essentially became the Raiders' No. 1 receiver following their decision to trade Jakobi Meyers to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Though Lockett has been productive from a statistical perspective in Vegas, context offers more insight. The 2-9 Raiders are an absolute disaster. The Raiders are discovering that a successful offense can't function in 2025 with Lockett as one of its main contributors, a lesson the Titans learned in September.
The Raiders are learning a lesson about Tyler Lockett the Titans already knew
It's not Lockett's fault the Raiders are expecting him to carry a heavier workload than he's suited to. That failure falls at the feet of GM John Spytek and his coaching staff. Lockett is simply executing the role he's been asked to serve.
The Raiders have dropped all four games Lockett has appeared in. And though he's registered 30-plus receiving yards in three consecutive contests, the majority of that production has been accumulated in garbage time. Sunday's Week 12 showing versus the Cleveland Browns represented a new low.
The Raiders lost 24-10 to the Browns. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was sacked on a historic 10 occasions. Lockett was their leading receiver, with four catches for 62 yards. It's a telltale sign of an ineffective offense.
The Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly following Sunday's lackluster showing. The Raiders are fielding one of the worst offenses in the entire NFL. Though Lockett appears to be producing half-decent numbers, positioning him as a go-to receiver in 2025 is a sign of an awful offense.
