As we head into Week 8 of the NFL season, the 2-5 New Orleans Saints will be on a bye. Expectations were elevated coming into 2026, but the Saints have come nowhere close to meeting them. Criticism is especially heavy, and deserved, on second-year head coach Kellen Moore. An offensive-minded coach, it was expected that New Orleans would be far better on that side of the ball in his second year. While the passing game has done well at times, the overall performance of the unit certainly has not. Here's a look at where the Saints rank statistically on offense as they enter their bye.

New Orleans Saints Total Offense

• 23.1 points per game (17th)

• 315.7 yards per game (21st)

• 13 turnovers (29th)

• 143 first downs (15th)

• 43.4% third down efficiency (8th)

• 77.3% red-zone percentage (2nd)

• 229.7 yards per game (15th)

• 67% completion percentage

• 13 touchdowns (8th)

• 6 interceptions (23rd)

• 86 yards per game (28th)

• 3.5 yards per carry (30th)

• 6 touchdowns (15th)

Also in his second year, quarterback Tyler Shough has been magnificent at times. This is especially the case when you consider that he's not had any type of running game and often deals with very poor pass protection. Shough needs to cut down on the turnovers (6 interceptions, 3 lost fumbles), but he's shown incredible grit and poise along with underrated escapability and amazing arm talent. He's thrown for over 250 yards in five of seven outings while oftentimes having to carry the entire team on his back.

Shough has an amazing chemistry with wideouts Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and tight end Juwan Johnson. He doesn't hesitate going their direction in any situation, with all three coming up big with critical contested catches or acrobatic receptions. This trio has 60 of the team's 90 passing first downs and has accounted for 72% of Shough's passing yardage. The Saints have other talented targets in rookie wideouts Bryce Lance, Barion Brown, tight ends Noah Fant and rookie Oscar Delp, along with veteran back Alvin Kamara. All five have made some plays, but at least one must step up to have a larger impact over the second stretch of the year.

Olave is well on his way to surpassing his career-best totals set last season. He's caught 49 of his 71 targets for 636 yards, including three outings of over 100 yards. Vele has been an incredible complement, especially in clutch moments, with 33 receptions for 348 yards. Johnson has cooled off considerably in the last two games after a hot start but still has 26 catches for 255 yards. Only Kamara, who has 22 receptions and 133 yards but a lowly 6-yard average, has more than 12 catches or 85 receiving yards.

With a hamstring injury to Travis Etienne that's sidelined him four games, backfield duties have been split between Kamara, Kendre Miller, and undrafted rookie CJ Donaldson. None have been effective. Miller leads the team with 159 rushing yards, but has 2 costly fumbles and a putrid 2.8 per carry average. Kamara has only 125 yards on the ground and a 3.0 average. Donaldson, who's been used as a short yardage back and for blitz pickup in passing situations, has 81 rushing yards but a team-best 4.8 average. Even Etienne had just 128 yards on the ground in his three games before the injury. He's expected to return from injured reserve shortly after the bye and will likely assume lead back duties.

While the backs need better production, it's also not entirely their fault. The Saints have one of the worst performing lines in the NFL. Left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. remains out with an ankle injury and Asim Richards has certainly struggled as his replacement. However, guards David Edwards and Cesar Ruiz, center Erik McCoy, and right tackle Taliese Fuaga have played poorly as a unit and individually. We're talking about two first round picks, a second rounder, and a high-priced free agent target. The result has been zero push off the line of scrimmage for the running game and Shough being one of the most heavily pressured and hit quarterbacks in the NFL.

Almost all the success that New Orleans has had offensively has been because of tremendous individual efforts from Shough, Olave, Vele, and Johnson. The fate of Kellen Moore almost certainly depends on better play-calling and game plan designs, stronger starts, and the overall performance of his offense through the rest of this year.