Houston
Texans
4-6
34
FINAL
42
New Orleans
Saints
5-5
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling matchup in Week 12 of the 2027 season, the New Orleans Saints topped the Houston Texans with a final score of 42-34. With playoff implications on the line, both teams fought hard, but it was the Saints who ultimately secured the victory, further solidifying their postseason aspirations.
Offensively, P.J. Dillard of the Texans put on a show, throwing for 301 yards and four touchdowns, showcasing his ability to stretch the field. However, it was Travis Etienne Jr. and Bryce Lance who led the charge for New Orleans; Etienne racked up 155 rushing yards while Lance dominated the air with 201 receiving yards, proving to be a potent duo that kept the Texans' defense on its heels throughout the game.
Defensively, the Saints made crucial plays that shifted momentum in their favor. Lorenzo Styles Jr. led the team with six total tackles, while Kaden Elliss contributed with a sack, pressuring Dillard when it mattered most. The game's turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Calen Bullock intercepted Dillard for the second time, sealing the win for New Orleans and allowing them to maintain control in the tight contest.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | CMP% | YDS | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P.J. Dillard | QB | 34 | 19 | 56% | 301 | 4 | 3 | 87.9 |
| Tyler Shough | QB | 16 | 11 | 69% | 246 | 4 | 2 | 111.4 |
| Bryce Lance | WR | 0 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | YAC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 21 | 155 | 7.4 | 27 | 1 | 38 | 1 |
| David Montgomery | HB | 7 | 31 | 4.4 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Kendre Miller | HB | 1 | -1 | -1.0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | YAC | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Lance | WR | 8 | 201 | 25.1 | 110 | 3 | 66 | 0 |
| Tank Dell | WR | 2 | 86 | 43.0 | 50 | 1 | 51 | 0 |
| Jayden Higgins | WR | 5 | 83 | 16.6 | 28 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
| Dalton Schultz | TE | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 22 | 1 | 17 | 0 |
| Travis Etienne Jr | HB | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 9 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Eli Heidenreich | HB | 3 | 22 | 7.3 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| David Montgomery | HB | 2 | 22 | 11.0 | 18 | 0 | 13 | 1 |
| Foster Moreau | TE | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 12 | 1 | 18 | 0 |
| Jaylin Noel | WR | 1 | 11 | 11.0 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Oscar Delp | TE | 1 | 7 | 7.0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lorenzo Styles Jr. | SS | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Calen Bullock | FS | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nathan Sherman | WILL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jack Jones | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J.D. Barber | FS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Isaiah Rodgers Sr | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kamari Lassiter | CB | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaden Elliss | WILL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Young | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T.J. Parker | LEDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Reed Blankenship | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Danny Stutsman | MIKE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wade Woodaz | WILL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derek Stingley Jr | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jaylin Smith | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Anderson Jr | LEDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E.J. Speed | SAM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sheldon Rankins | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kayden McDonald | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Henry To'oTo'o | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Danielle Hunter | REDG | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quincy Riley | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | MIKE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Codrington | CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mohamoud Diabate | SAM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jalen Pitre | CB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ka'imi Fairbairn | K | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Charlie Smyth | K | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |

