ATLANTA — New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson just submitted his entry for Catch of the Year. In a pivotal Week 18 divisional matchup against the Atlanta Falcons, Johnson’s sheer athleticism turned a floating third-down pass into a highlight-reel conversion that immediately silenced the crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Facing a 3rd-and-2 in the first quarter, the Saints offense looked to respond after an early Falcons touchdown. Quarterback Tyler Shough lofted a fade ball toward the sideline, where Johnson—a former college free agent out of Oregon—leaped into the air. Johnson didn’t just find the ball; he snatched it with a single hand while horizontal in a full-extension dive. After securing the first down, Johnson punctuated the moment with a defiant stare toward the Falcons’ sideline.
While the Saints and Falcons battle for pride in Georgia, the broader NFC landscape has seen a tectonic shift today. The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) shut down the San Francisco 49ers 13-3 to officially lock up the NFC’s No. 1 seed and home-field advantage.
Elsewhere, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers narrowly escaped with a 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers. In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars dominated the Tennessee Titans 28-7, a game marred by a shoulder injury to Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward.
“That deserves a stare… remember man, he came out as a college free agent out of Oregon,” the broadcast team noted as Johnson celebrated the logic-defying grab.
The Saints are fighting to finish a grueling 2025 campaign with a statement win over their oldest rival. With Seattle already securing the conference’s top spot, the focus shifts to the remaining Wild Card seeds, where the 49ers (12-5) now face a difficult road path after their Saturday night loss.
