News Summary
The New Orleans Saints began their 2025 NFL Preseason with a disappointing 27-13 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers. Head Coach Kellen Moore’s debut showcased a mix of promising plays and recurring mistakes, including turnovers and defensive struggles. Quarterbacks Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough faced challenges as they attempted to establish offensive rhythm. Despite a bright moment with a touchdown pass from Shough, the team’s failure to capitalize on scoring opportunities marred the game. The Saints are now focused on addressing their quarterback situation and improving ahead of the regular season.
New Orleans – The New Orleans Saints opened their 2025 NFL Preseason with a disappointing 27-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. This game marked Head Coach Kellen Moore’s debut in charge, where the team exhibited a mix of promising plays alongside familiar mistakes that have plagued them in recent seasons.
Throughout the match, the Saints struggled to maintain possession, committing several turnovers, including a fumble, a crucial defensive penalty, and an interception in the first three quarters which allowed the Chargers to capitalize and score 17 points off these mistakes. The Saints’ run defense was also compromised, allowing 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns to the Chargers, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
Quarterback performance remained a focal point in the game, with starter Spencer Rattler completing 7 of 11 passes for just 53 yards. He added a modest rushing effort of three carries for 22 yards but suffered three sacks during the game and lost a fumble. Rattler struggled to establish a rhythm, with offensive protection failing to provide adequate support.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough saw more action, completing 15 of 22 passes for 165 yards. However, he too experienced pressures, being sacked twice and throwing an interception returned for a touchdown. Despite these setbacks, Shough managed to connect with wide receiver Mason Tipton for a 54-yard touchdown pass, demonstrating resilience in difficult situations. Another backup quarterback, Jake Haener, completed 5 of 8 passes for 41 yards but was intercepted once.
Coach Kellen Moore highlighted the challenges faced by the quarterbacks, describing the outing as a learning experience. He pointed out the importance of the team’s ability to protect the football and to perform under critical game situations. Moore acknowledged moments of progress during the game, particularly commending Shough’s two-minute drive before halftime that showcased potential despite the loss.
The game also saw pivotal moments that could have shifted the momentum for the Saints. In one instance, the team failed to convert on a critical fourth-and-goal situation from the 1-yard line, missing an opportunity for a touchdown. Additionally, the Saints managed to recover a muffed punt by Chargers player Nyheim Hines, setting themselves up at the Chargers’ 17-yard line, but were unable to convert that possession into points.
Defensively, several players stood out, including defensive tackle Khristian Boyd, who recorded an important sack on quarterback Taylor Heinicke that was initially ruled a safety. Linebacker Isaiah Stalbird exhibited strong tackling skills, indicating potential for further contributions as the preseason unfolds.
As the Saints move forward, the evaluation of their quarterback situation remains a priority. All three quarterbacks are set to rotate with the first-team offense during training camp, aiming to establish a clearer hierarchy ahead of the regular season. Discussions regarding potential roster adjustments have begun, with rumors suggesting interest in trading for quarterback Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns in response to the current struggles exhibited in the quarterback position.
The Saints, despite their preseason setback, are focused on building towards the upcoming challenges, looking to leverage the lessons learned from this opening game to improve their performance ahead of the regular season.
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Additional Resources
- New Orleans Saints Official Site
- Sports Illustrated
- Canal Street Chronicles
- Who Dat Dish
- Essentially Sports
- Wikipedia: New Orleans Saints
- Google Search: New Orleans Saints preseason 2025
- Google Scholar: New Orleans Saints
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans Saints
- Google News: New Orleans Saints
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