News Summary
The New Orleans Saints faced a challenging preseason opener against the Los Angeles Chargers, suffering a 27-13 defeat. The Saints’ performance was marred by three turnovers, proving detrimental. Despite some promising plays from rookie quarterbacks, including Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough, the team couldn’t convert opportunities into points. The Chargers capitalized on Saints’ mistakes, with standout defensive play and key touchdowns. As they regroup, the Saints look ahead to their next matchup against Jacksonville, aiming to address their execution issues.
Inglewood, California – The New Orleans Saints opened their 2025 NFL preseason with a tough loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, falling short with a final score of 27-13. The Saints struggled with costly mistakes, including three turnovers, which contributed significantly to their defeat on the road.
The Chargers received the opening kickoff and started their first drive with quarterback Taylor Heinicke at the helm. Heinicke’s team enjoyed an early advantage when Kimani Vidal rushed for nine yards on a second down, quickly setting the tone for the home team. Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom made an important play by breaking up a pass intended for KeAndre Lambert-Smith, forcing the Chargers to punt shortly after.
For New Orleans, rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler took the field, completing a nine-yard pass to Kendre Miller on his initial play. A strategic 21-yard gain by Cedrick Wilson Jr. showcased the Saints’ potential in the opening quarter, especially when the Chargers faltered defensively. However, the Saints failed to capitalize on their possession after a muffed punt by Nyheim Miller-Hines, which was recovered by Treyton Welch at the Chargers’ 17-yard line. Despite advancing to the 5-yard line, New Orleans was unable to score, turning the ball over on downs after a failed attempt by Rattler against the Chargers’ defense.
As the second quarter began, the tide turned when Caleb Murphy stripped Rattler of the ball; the Chargers’ Justin Eboigbe recovered it at the Saints’ 33-yard line. The Chargers put points on the board first with a 44-yard field goal kicked by Cameron Dicker, establishing a 3-0 lead. They further displayed their offensive strength by executing an impressive 85-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Trey Lance. Following a penalty on the Saints during the extra point attempt, the Chargers opted for a two-point conversion but were stopped by the Saints’ defense.
With the clock winding down in the first half, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough entered for New Orleans during a two-minute drill, successfully completing five passes for 42 yards. As the half concluded, Blake Grupe successfully kicked a 31-yard field goal, narrowing the Saints’ deficit to 9-3.
The second half began poorly for New Orleans, as Shough was quickly sacked, leading to a three-and-out series. The Chargers expanded their lead when Eric Rogers intercepted a pass from Shough and returned it for a 44-yard touchdown. This made the score 16-3 after the successful two-point conversion. Despite the setback, Shough responded with a bright moment for New Orleans, launching a 54-yard touchdown pass to Mason Tipton, reducing the score to 16-10.
However, the Chargers quickly regained their composure, thanks to a field goal by Dicker, pushing the lead back to 20-10. As the game progressed, Jake Haener took over for Shough as the Saints’ third quarterback, but his efforts fell short after throwing an interception to Eric Rogers shortly afterward. The Chargers’ DJ Uiagalelei made a significant contribution with a 49-yard pass completion to Campbell, enabling Raheim Sanders to score an 11-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Chargers’ lead to 27-10.
In the final moments of the game, the Saints managed to score a 50-yard field goal by Charlie Smyth, solidifying the defeat at 27-13. Eric Rogers was recognized as the Player of the Game for the Chargers, contributing two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, alongside five tackles.
Looking ahead, the Saints will face the Jacksonville Jaguars for their second preseason game on August 17 at the Caesars Superdome. The team will need to address their turnovers and overall execution if they hope to improve their performance in the coming weeks.
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Additional Resources
- Greenwich Time: Chargers Defense Steps Up in 27-13 Preseason Win
- Google Search: New Orleans Saints NFL preseason
- The Sporting Tribune: Saints at Chargers Photos
- Encyclopedia Britannica: NFL preseason
- ESPN Southwest Louisiana: Saints Gamer – New Orleans Opens Preseason with Loss in LA
- Google News: Saints vs Chargers preseason
- MassLive: Where to Stream Saints vs Chargers Free Today
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