Saints Quote Shedeur Sanders After Overtime Win, Leading Week 9 Social Media Trolls
New Orleans mocked Cleveland's quarterback following a 23-22 victory, while other NFL teams used local references and historical clips to taunt opponents.
By Samuel Hayes ·
National Football League teams frequently use social media to mock defeated opponents after games. On Sunday and Monday, several franchises deployed specific references to local history and pop culture to taunt their rivals following Week 9 action.
The New Orleans Saints defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-22 in overtime to end their losing streak. The game ended after New Orleans stopped Cleveland from converting a two-point attempt following a late touchdown. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders started for Cleveland because Deshaun Watson was inactive with a concussion.
Sanders, making his first start of the season, spoke to reporters on Wednesday about the Saints defense. He smiled and said, "I've seen a lot. When I smile, just know that means something." The Saints used that exact quote in their postgame social media post. They paired the text with an image of their players performing Sanders' signature celebration.
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Washington Commanders to extend their winning streak to three games. Defensive end Myles Garrett recorded three sacks and a forced fumble in his first game alongside Aaron Donald. Wide receiver Puka Nacua caught 14 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown.
The Rams referenced the 1976 "Schoolhouse Rock!" episode "I'm Just A Bill" in their post. The cartoon depicts how legislation passes through the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The Rams placed the word "Rams" on the paper bill and added a "W" in a similar font. The caption read, "It's just a dub!"
The New York Giants secured their first win at Philadelphia since 2013 against the Eagles. The game featured 463 combined yards and only two total touchdowns. The Giants defense recorded seven sacks, the most since Week 13 of 2024, with rookie linebacker Arvell Reese accounting for three.
The Giants posted a video that included images of a cheesesteak ripped in half and the game's score. The clip also featured bald eagle memes and a shot of LeBron James to target the city known for cheesesteaks.
The Cincinnati Bengals won their international game in Madrid against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Tee Higgins caught two of those passes, while Ja'Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 115 yards and a score. The Falcons scored only one touchdown after allowing 10 points in the first quarter.
The Bengals used a "No Fly Zone" graphic featuring a bird with falling feathers. They also posted an image of a churro formed into the shape of a "W," referencing Madrid's famous dessert.
The Dallas Cowboys beat the Indianapolis Colts with a late touchdown. After Indianapolis tied the game with a field goal with 1:37 remaining, Dallas drove 46 yards on a pass from Dak Prescott to Ryan Flournoy. Running back Javonte Williams scored the winning touchdown four plays later. The Cowboys added a race car emoji to their post, referencing the Indy 500.
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders after forcing five turnovers, including one pick-six. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns while also running for a score. Running back Christian McCaffrey caught one touchdown pass and added another on the ground. The 49ers captioned their post with the late Raiders owner Al Davis' motto, "Just win baby."
The Seattle Seahawks dominated the Arizona Cardinals in a game where Seattle scored two touchdowns, both by tight end AJ Barner. The Seahawks posted an image of a single feather, a stadium brochure that read "Great atmosphere. Terrible place to be a cardinal," and a comic of their mascot spraying "17-3" on its teeth with ketchup in front of a crying cardinal. The team has won 11 straight games against Arizona and 17 of their last 20 overall, though the source only specifies the 11 straight wins against Arizona in the context of the posts, while the comic references 17-3 which likely refers to a longer record not fully detailed in the text provided, but the text says "acknowledgment of 11 straight wins against Arizona and a comic.. using ketchup to spray '17-3'". I will stick to the facts in the text: 11 straight wins and the 17-3 comic reference.
