News Summary
The New Orleans Saints faced another tough defeat, losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-3, resulting in a poor season record of 1-7. This loss marks their seventh consecutive defeat, leading to significant concerns regarding the team’s performance. Coach Kellen Moore made a bold decision to bench quarterback Spencer Rattler, replacing him with rookie Tyler Shough, who struggled to make an impact. As the team evaluates their offense, the next matchup against the Los Angeles Rams raises questions about their quarterback situation and overall strategy moving forward.
New Orleans – The New Orleans Saints suffered another disappointing defeat on Sunday, losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-3, which left them with a dismal season record of 1-7. This loss marks the Saints’ seventh consecutive defeat, raising concerns about the team’s performance as they approach the midway point of the season.
In a bold move aimed at finding offensive improvement, the Saints made a significant change at the quarterback position. In the third quarter, head coach Kellen Moore benched Spencer Rattler in favor of rookie Tyler Shough, who was selected in the second round of the last NFL draft. Rattler’s performance included two turnovers—one interception and one lost fumble—justifying the coaching decision at a time when the team was trailing 17-3.
Tyler Shough, making his first extended appearance in the NFL, completed 17 of 30 passes for 128 yards, but he also threw an interception. His interception occurred when a pass intended for wide receiver Chris Olave was intercepted by Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. In addition, Shough added 12 rushing yards on three carries but failed to lead the Saints to any scoring drives during his time on the field.
Following the game, head coach Kellen Moore emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the offense, stating that the overall performance had not met high standards. When questioned about who would start in the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams, Moore refrained from making a commitment, indicating that the coaching staff would assess the situation over the next 48 hours. He made it clear that there would not be an open competition for the starting quarterback position this week, suggesting a systematic approach to the potential continuing struggles of the offense.
Spencer Rattler expressed surprise at being benched but maintained a positive attitude, noting he held “no bad feelings” and planned to remain supportive of his teammates. Rattler’s issues with turnovers were evident, as he had given the ball away four times in his last two games; this included three interceptions against the Chicago Bears prior to facing the Buccaneers. Before his benching, Rattler completed 15 of 21 passes for 136 yards, one interception, and one fumble registered in the game against Tampa Bay.
With the Saints struggling in multiple aspects, they must now address their quarterback situation with the Rams game approaching. Rattler’s record as a starter has now fallen to 1-13, extending back to last season. The Saints’ offense needs to improve significantly if they hope to turn the season around, especially in the wake of their recent performance.
The Saints selected Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 draft after he won the starting job during training camp against Shough. As the franchise grapples with these ongoing quarterback dilemmas, the team’s hope for a turnaround dwindles alongside their current standings.
As New Orleans prepares for their next match against the Rams, anticipation builds to see who will take the helm as quarterback and how head coach Kellen Moore’s strategic adjustments will play out on the field.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Saints Bench QB Spencer Rattler
- Wikipedia: New Orleans Saints
- NFL: Saints Bench QB Spencer Rattler
- Google Search: Spencer Rattler
- USA Today: Saints QB Situation
- Google Scholar: Tyler Shough
- Sporting News: Saints Bench Rattler
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans Saints
- Whodat Dish: Saints Bold QB Switch
- Google News: New Orleans Saints 2025
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