Taysom Hill finally got the start at quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, just a week after signing an eye-opening contract extension. And it didn’t go well.
Hill threw four interceptions in a 27-17 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, and the final two interceptions were particularly rough.
With just under five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Hill rolled out and tried to complete a pass downfield, but he badly underthrew the ball and made it an easy play for Defensive Player of the Year candidate Trevon Diggs. It’s already interception No. 9 on the season for Diggs, and he’d have even more if the opportunities were regularly this easy.
Not a good pass from Taysom Hill, for his third interception thrown in the game. He has a 36.9 passer rating in this game.
And it's the ninth interception on the season for Trevon Diggs! pic.twitter.com/8HAChQkq1D
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 3, 2021
Just two minutes later, Hill had an even more embarrassing interception. This one was a pick-six thrown right into the hands of 305-pound defensive tackle Carlos Watkins.
RUMBLE BIG FELLA RUMBLE. #DallasCowboys
📺: #DALvsNO on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LMzEctbvnL pic.twitter.com/WKf5PhK4cd— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2021
BALLHAWK. @carloswatkins94
📺: #DALvsNO on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LMzEctbvnL pic.twitter.com/s9XRlEyRkB— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2021
Overall, Hill completed 19-of-41 passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns, the four interceptions, and a 44.2 passer rating. The yards, touchdowns, and passer rating were also artificially inflated by Deonte Harris incredibly turning a short pass into a 70-yard touchdown shortly after the interceptions, with the game out of reach.
This Deonte Harris incredible effort for a 70-yard touchdown gets Taysom Hill's passer rating all the way up to 44.2! pic.twitter.com/WxXHD3zV2h
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 3, 2021
Now, Hill did make a big impact in the run game, with 11 carries for 101 yards.
Taysom Hill with the hurdle on a 23-yard run! pic.twitter.com/PfULdORyzP
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 3, 2021
But to play the quarterback position effectively, Hill needs to be much, much better as a passer- or else he may be no more than a poor man’s Jalen Hurts. What Hill showed as a passer on Thursday night isn’t exactly a shock to many NFL evaluators, despite how much Sean Payton and the New Orleans organization believe in him.
Taysom Hill is one heck of a running back
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 3, 2021
We might have to stop calling Sean Payton a great offensive mind if he continues to try and convince us that Taysom Hill is a starting NFL quarterback.
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) December 3, 2021
Taysom Hill Rushing & Passing Charts 📊
🔹 The Good: +53 rushing yards over expected (career-high)
🔹 The Bad: First player in the NGS era to finish with negative passing yards under pressure in a game, minimum 10 such attempts (1/10, -2 yards, INT)#DALvsNO | #Saints pic.twitter.com/CSfMLksAbo
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 3, 2021
Taysom Hill is the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for 100+ yards and throw 4+ interceptions. pic.twitter.com/mRNeogPINR
— StatMuse (@statmuse) December 3, 2021
And Hill is 31 years old, so it’s not like we’re talking about a young quarterback here.
His dual-threat (or at least running threat) ability may make him more valuable than at least the Trevor Siemians of the world, but that’s a very low bar.
The 5-7 Saints are a long way from returning to contention without significant improvements at the position in a quarterback’s league.