What Taysom Hill told his Saints teammates before comeback

The do-it-all quarterback leads the Saints to overcome a two-touchdown deficit in a preseason game against the Chargers.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill (7) stiff arms Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Nick Dzubnar (48) during the fourth quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Saints went into halftime with a two-touchdown deficit. After hearing what coach Sean Payton said before the second half began, Taysom Hill took it upon himself to fix much of what went wrong.

The do-it-all quarterback spearheaded a comeback for the Saints to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 19-17 in a preseason game Sunday.

He led the Saints on three scoring drives in a span of four possessions. On the drive the Saints didn't score, a fumble inside the 5 cost them some points. 

Hill completed 11 of 15 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed five times for 53 yards, commonly running only after a play breakdown that gave him room to maneuver. 

"We were able to move the ball," said Hill, who replaced Teddy Bridgewater late in the first half. "If things broke down, we were able to avoid negative plays. I know I gave up a sack, but we were able to come back from that and we were able to convert on third down later. I think having the ability to make plays when things aren’t there just makes us more difficult to stop."

The Saints struggled through what Payton said was an "awful" first half on offense. With Bridgewater at quarterback, New Orleans failed to score on four of five possessions. The only points came on a field goal, and the Saints trailed 17-3 at halftime.

Payton said after the game Bridgewater was sick and should have been removed sooner, but Bridgewater didn't use that as an excuse for his performance.

Regardless, Hill took it upon himself to lead the preseason comeback win. 

"I felt like we needed some energy," Hill said. "And the thing that I kept reiterating in the huddle was we're going to have an opportunity to win this football game. I know it's a preseason game. But this is what it's all about. If we came out here to not win, then we're wrong. (Winning) was the objective."

For Hill to provide an energy boost is nothing new. The former BYU quarterback has provided a spark on offense and special teams with fake punt conversions and a punt block in his two seasons with the Saints. 

Last season, he converted on a fake punt for the first time in the preseason win against the Chargers and converted on similar plays three times after that, including once in a playoff comeback last season against the Eagles at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 

The Saints used him in multiple ways on offense by lining him up at quarterback, H-back and tight end. He commonly runs, throws and blocks -- all actions that catch the attention of his teammates.

"When a quarterback is dropping his shoulder (on a run), that's always fun to watch," said third-year defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whose play against the Chargers also drew some attention. "I love him. He's a great special teams guy and he brings it every day."

Then, after a pause, Hendrickson added, "He's a great quarterback too."

Hill ultimately wants to be a starting quarterback in the NFL. In the meantime, he's doing everything asked of him to be on a 53-man roster and make an impact. 

CBS television analyst Dan Fouts noted Hill for his tight throwing motion as a passer, further validating Payton's belief in Hill as a possible successor to Brees for whenever he decides to stop playing.

On the 27-yard touchdown pass to Austin Carr that drew the Saints within 17-10, Hill noted how one defender turned his attention to the running back coming out of the backfield, leaving Carr open along the sideline.

"The second I saw his body language come back to the halfback, I was able to confirm that the corner went with our outside receiver," Hill said of a play that began with four wideouts and one running back. "Then I knew (Carr) was going to be open, and so I just got him the ball."

Payton noted the energy boost Hill provided in the second half.

"It's real," he said.

In two preseasons with the Saints, Hill has largely thrived as a passer. In the four games since his five turnovers in the second preseason game last season against the Cardinals, Hill has thrown five touchdown passes against one interception. 

To call him a dual-threat passer might be underselling him. Because, as he's shown multiple times, he's capable of doing so much more.