Charlie Smyth's dream week got even better as the Down man tied a franchise record with five field goals to help the New Orleans Saints get past the New York Jets 29-6 on Sunday afternoon.
Earlier this week Smyth signed to the New Orleans Saints' 53-man active roster on a three-year contract.
He'd been elevated to the Saints' active roster on three occasions during the campaign, reaching the maximum number of times a practice squad member can be moved up.
The 24-year-old's stock is most certainly on the rise and he enhanced his reputation further at Caesars Superdome.
Chris Olave caught two touchdown passes from different quarterbacks and the New Orleans defence didn't allow a touchdown, while Tyler Shough had season highs of 32 completions, 49 attempts and 308 yards. The rookie threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Olave, who finished with 10 catches for a season-best 148 yards.
Hill fumbled on the second play from scrimmage and Qwan'tez Stiggers recovered for the Jets at the New Orleans 37. New York stalled at the 11 and Nick Folk kicked a 29-yard field goal.
CHAAARLIIEEEE 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/PYrRyJFdZb
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) December 21, 2025
The Saints drove to Smyth's 35-yard field goal to forge a tie that held up through the end of the first quarter.
On the second play of the second quarter, Smyth broke the tie by kicking a 49-yard field goal.
Folk's 36-yarder knotted the score at 6 apiece, but Smyth answered with a 36-yarder with 1:31 left in the half. Smyth missed a 61-yarder as time expired, leaving New Orleans with a 9-6 half-time lead.
Neither team was able to find the end zone for nearly three quarters until Shough and Olave connected for their touchdown, giving New Orleans a 16-6 edge at the end of the third quarter. That completed a 12-play, 93-yard drive.
Rookie Jonas Sanker intercepted Cook and returned it to the Jets' 44, leading to Smyth's record-tying 39-yard field goal with 5:17 remaining. Taysom Hill threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Olave to complete the scoring with 1:54 left.
In addition to his 38 yards passing, Hill rushed 12 times for 42 yards and caught four passes from Shough for 36 yards.
FIVE field-goals on the day now for Charlie Smyth 🫡 pic.twitter.com/5Ndm3Klosx
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) December 21, 2025
Elsewhere the Carolina Panthers moved top of the NFC South with a 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Lathan Ransom intercepted Baker Mayfield with 42 seconds remaining in Charlotte after Bryce Young threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tennessee Titans ended a run of 11 consecutive home defeats by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 26-9.
A week after Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a season-ending torn ACL, his understudy Gardner Minshew sustained a knee injury early in the second quarter.
Justin Herbert threw two touchdown passes and ran in another to help the Los Angeles Chargers close in on a play-off spot with a 34-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
James Cook rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns in the Buffalo Bills' 23-20 win over the Cleveland Browns.
Joe Burrow threw four touchdowns to help the Cincinnati Bengals overcome the Miami Dolphins 45-21.
In another match featuring two teams already eliminated from play-off contention, JJ McCarthy ran for a touchdown before leaving with an injury to his throwing hand as the Minnesota Vikings edged past the New York Giants 16-13.
Additional reporting: PA
