# Charlie Smyth Leads Saints to Overtime Victory Against Browns Irish kicker Charlie Smyth secures Saints' first home win with three field goals. - **Source:** [RTÉ Sport](https://www.rte.ie/sport) - **Published:** 2026-11-08 - **Topic:** [sports](https://brifing.si/c/sports) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/eb9dc76e-0892-4b63-957c-1dcf53973f7f ## Smyth's Dramatic Return Charlie Smyth returned to the New Orleans Saints lineup after being released last August. Head coach Kellen Moore recalled the 25-year-old from the practice squad earlier this week. This decision proved pivotal as Smyth signed a three-year contract last December, providing the team with necessary stability during this challenging NFL season. ## Field Goal Mastery The Irish kicker successfully converted three field goals during the match at the Caesars Superdome. His performance included a crucial 48-yard effort in the fourth quarter, which briefly gave the Saints the lead. Despite missing a 52-yard attempt earlier, his accuracy remained vital for the team's narrow 23-22 overtime victory. ## Tight Game Dynamics The game remained defensive throughout the first half, ending in a 3-3 tie. By the end of the third quarter, the score was locked at 6-6. Both teams struggled to find the end zone until the final minutes of regulation, leading to a high-pressure environment for both the kickers and quarterbacks. ## Late Game Exchange Cleveland quarterback Shedeur Sanders connected with KC Concepcion for a 64-yard touchdown pass, giving the Browns a 13-9 lead. The Saints responded with a 55-yard drive, ending in an Audric Estime touchdown. Andre Szmyt then forced overtime for the Browns by successfully converting a 51-yard field goal with seconds remaining. ## Overtime Deciding Moments In overtime, Saints tight end Juwan Johnson caught a 15-yard touchdown pass to put New Orleans ahead 23-16. The Browns quickly countered with a 39-yard touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. However, the subsequent two-point conversion attempt failed, ultimately sealing the first home win of the season for the Saints. ## Season Record Impact This victory improves the New Orleans Saints' record to 3-5 for the current season. Securing their first home win provides a morale boost for the franchise after a difficult start. The team continues to navigate roster adjustments, with Smyth’s performance highlighting the potential impact of practice squad elevations during critical games. ## Strategic Roster Decisions The Saints' reliance on Smyth underscores the importance of special teams in tight NFL contests. By retaining him on the practice squad after his August release, the organization maintained depth. This strategic patience allowed the coaching staff to deploy a familiar kicker when offensive consistency fluctuated against a tough Browns defense. ## Future Team Outlook The Saints now look to build on this momentum following their narrow success. While the offense showed resilience in the final minutes of regulation and overtime, the team must address defensive lapses that allowed late scoring drives. Consistency in both kicking and red-zone execution remains essential for their remaining seasonal schedule. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2026/1108/1598462-nfl-returning-smyth-helps-saints-to-overtime-victory/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._