Fresh off a big win on the road against the division-rival Carolina Panthers and going into a much-needed break at the bye week, where do the New Orleans Saints stack up in the latest NFL power rankings? They’re still just 2-8, but this team looks a little different after making a change at quarterback.

Maybe it’s as simple as Tyler Shough inspiring confidence in his teammates. Maybe it’s something deeper, and he has that quality good quarterbacks share, by elevating the talent around him. Either way, he just beat a tough Panthers team that had won four of their last five games and stunned the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field a week before.

Shough has a big opportunity in front of him. With seven games to go once the Saints return from their bye week, he has a chance to play well and prove the team doesn’t need to draft another quarterback early in 2026. But that’s easier said than done.

As the Saints take a breather during Week 11, let’s check in on where they placed in a range of NFL power rankings.

Nate Davis, USA TODAY: 28 (+2)

In becoming the franchise’s first rookie quarterback to register a win in 44 years, Tyler Shough carved up a legit Carolina defense with a 128.9 passer rating. Coming out of this week’s bye, six of the seven teams he’s set to face have losing records − quite an opportunity for Shough to make a case that he should be the guy in 2026 and maybe beyond.

Can Tyler Shough play well enough to convince the Saints that they don’t need to draft a QB next April? New Orleans should be in a position to take a top prospect if they want. But Shough looked good in Sunday’s win at Carolina and should start the rest of the season.

Diante Lee, The Ringer: 30 (+2)

Quarterback Tyler Shough looked much closer to the player we saw at Louisville on Sunday, playing efficiently within structure and stepping up in the pocket with confidence. There are still times when he breaks down under pressure, but against the Panthers, he looked like someone who can grow into a Ryan Tannehill–esque passer, and that would be a major win for the second-round pick.

The Saints didn’t light it up with Tyler Shough in the rookie second-rounder’s second start in Carolina. However, he found comfort in his two remaining reliable receivers, Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson. The defense needed that get-well feeling for Kellen Moore, too.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 29 (+1)

Winning at Carolina is nice, but the big thing was that Tyler Shough seems to be making progress. Could he be their long-term guy?

Good for Tyler Shough—and for Kellen Moore. With a super beat up offensive line and one of the Saints’ best receivers having been shipped away at the trade deadline, Shough became the first Saints rookie quarterback to win a game since 1981, which feels incredibly made up but is, in fact, not.

After an up-and-down rookie season, (Kool-Aid) McKinstry has notched the first two interceptions of his career this season. He’s tied for 22nd in the league with seven pass deflections, and he surpassed his career high in tackles Sunday when he tallied six to get to 46 for the season.

Not that beating the Panthers was overly impressive, but you have to wonder why Kellen Moore didn’t start Tyler Shough earlier. I don’t know if Shough will end up being a good NFL quarterback, but he certainly has more promise than Spencer Rattler. Plus, Moore needed to see what he had in his 40th-overall pick.

NFL Nation, ESPN: 27 (+3)

(Demario) Davis is still going strong a few months shy of his 37th birthday, leading the team with 91 tackles. On 99.4% of the defensive snaps this season, he has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He almost had his first interception of the season Sunday before a penalty from safety Justin Reid negated it. Davis also remains a key leader and voice on the team despite the Saints’ struggles this season. — Katherine Terrell