Smyth's Overtime Kick Gives Saints Third Win
The Irish kicker returned from the practice squad to secure a 23-22 overtime win for New Orleans.
By Anthony Shevchenko ·
Charlie Smyth converted a one-point conversion after Juwan Johnson's touchdown to give the New Orleans Saints a 23-22 victory over the Cleveland Browns in overtime on Sunday. The win marks the third win of the season for the Saints. Cleveland dropped to a 5-4 record after failing on a two-point conversion attempt to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Smyth, a 25-year-old from Mayobridge in County Down, replaced Daniel Carlson as the starting kicker for the game. He had been on the practice squad since the Saints signed Carlson in late training camp for the 2026 season. Carlson, a two-time All-Pro, was released on Tuesday after missing four of his 12 field goal attempts and two extra points for New Orleans.
The former Gaelic footballer made three field goals from 30, 27, and 48 yards in the loss for Cleveland. He also made two extra points. His first kick of the game came on the opening drive. The Saints drove to the Browns' five-yard line but lost ground on consecutive plays, forcing a 30-yard attempt that Smyth successfully made.
Smyth missed a 52-yard field goal attempt in the second quarter. Quarterback Tyler Shough was sacked on third down, leading to the difficult kick that drifted wide to the right. The Browns took the lead in the first half through two field goals by Andre Szmyt.
Smyth tied the game from 27 yards before giving New Orleans the lead with a 48-yard kick with five minutes and 44 seconds left. The Browns answered with a 64-yard reception by rookie KC Concepcion to lead 13-9. The Saints responded with a 55-yard drive that ended in a touchdown by Audric Estime.
Szmyt tied the game at 16-16 with a 51-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining. In overtime, the Saints ran an 11-play drive that culminated in a 15-yard touchdown pass from Shough to Johnson. Smyth's subsequent extra point secured the win.
Smyth became the starting kicker for Kellen Moore's team in week 13 of last season. He made 12 of 16 field goals in the 2025 season. That included a 47-yard game-winner against the Carolina Panthers in December. The Saints will look to build on this result in their next game.
