After scoring just three points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the New Orleans Saints knew it was time to make a change at quarterback. Spencer Rattler was not getting the job done, though he did lead the team to a 26-14 win over the New York Giants. With QB Tyler Shough waiting his turn, that moment has finally arrived.
New Orleans Saints Benched Spencer Rattler For Tyler Shough
Through roughly seven and a half games, the Saints had seen enough. This season, Rattler is 174/256 for 1,586 yards with eight touchdowns to five interceptions. He’s been sacked 18 times but has added 167 yards on the ground. Ultimately, while his numbers are far from abysmal, he hasn’t done enough to get the job done.
When the team drafted Shough No. 40 overall, it was clear he would get a moment when the time was right. At this point in the season, the Saints decided to call his number. With the trade deadline looming, the Saints would love to know if Shough has what it takes to lead them to the promised land. That’s going to be much easier said than done, but they could trade Rattler, should a team be desperate for a quarterback.
Head coach Kellen Moore said the team is not looking back, and they’re solely focused on Shough moving forward.
Rattler is currently 30th in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric. His D grade indicates how poorly he has performed, but there are no guarantees that Shough will improve. The Saints would sure love for that to be the case, and he’ll have ample chances to prove himself against a favorable schedule.
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Rattler made his first start in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams. The Saints lost 34-10, and the rookie quarterback threw for 176 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. He will get his second start in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers.
New Orleans Saints’ Insights for Week 10
Team: During the current four-game losing streak, New Orleans has scored a total of 10 points in the second half, including zero points in the last two games. The Saints’ offense hasn’t scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter since Week 3.
QB: The Saints have not had a quarterback ranked higher than 13th on QBi since Drew Brees returned in 2020. Brees was in the Top 10 in all 15 seasons in New Orleans
Offense: The Saints have scored 19 or fewer points in seven of nine games.
Defense: New Orleans had a top 10 defense according to DEFi from 2019 to 2023. After ranking 18th last season, the Saints currently sit in 22nd place this season with a score of 68.5 (D+).
Fantasy: Rico Dowdle has served as the feature back in three games this season. His 28.1 fantasy points against the Packers last week marked his lowest point total. The previous two: 32.4 and 33.9.
