Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler has frustrating night in shutout loss to Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — With out many weapons round him, New Orleans Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler couldn’t capitalize on his alternative for a nationally televised showcase.

One week after main 4 straight scoring drives in a 20-19 loss to the Washington Commanders, the fifth-round choose from South Carolina didn’t produce any factors as the Saints fell 34-0 to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Monday night time, the primary shutout within the NFL this season.

The Saints (5-10) have been shut out for the primary time since falling 13-0 to San Francisco on Nov. 27, 2022.

“Embarrassing loss,” Rattler mentioned. “I put it on myself. I performed not good in any respect, in my view. Simply didn’t have any solutions. Acquired to go make extra performs, shield the ball. Simply bought to be higher.”

Rattler has began 4 video games in his rookie season, and the Saints have misplaced every of them by a minimum of 18 factors. However he confirmed promise in his final look, when he got here off the bench to interchange an ineffective Jake Haener and orchestrated a comeback in opposition to the Commanders.

That efficiency earned Rattler one other begin rather than the injured Derek Carr, however Rattler wasn’t almost as efficient Monday night time. He went 15 of 30 for 153 yards with an interception and a fumble.

The Saints have been enjoying with out five-time Professional Bowl working again Alvin Kamara (groin) and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest/sickness). Receivers Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Chris Olave (head) and tight finish Taysom Hill (knee) have been sidelined for a number of weeks. The Saints misplaced middle Erik McCoy to an elbow damage throughout Monday’s recreation.

Rattler didn’t use these accidents as an excuse.

“Our expectation is to try to get it achieved with anyone,” Rattler mentioned. “All through the week, I’m assured in my guys all the time.”

Rattler was dealing with a Inexperienced Bay protection lacking 4 starters: linebacker and main tackler Quay Walker, two-time Professional Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander and rookie safeties Evan Williams and Javon Bullard.

However the Packers nonetheless had loads of solutions for Rattler and the Saints.

New Orleans was shut out within the first half for a second straight recreation, the primary time the Saints have been scoreless at halftime of back-to-back video games since 1997.

On New Orleans’ first sequence, Rattler failed to attach with Kevin Austin on third-and-7 from the Inexperienced Bay 40. The Saints initially lined as much as go for it on fourth down however opted to punt after a false-start penalty pushed them again 5 yards.

New Orleans already trailed 21-0 when Rattler bought the Saints contained in the Inexperienced Bay 30 late within the second quarter. That drive ended when Keisean Nixon sacked Rattler and compelled a fumble that Rashan Gary recovered.

The Saints bought to Inexperienced Bay’s 34 earlier than a sack by Devonte Wyatt pushed them out of subject aim vary within the closing seconds of the half, resulting in an unsuccessful Hail Mary try. That drive additionally included a clock administration miscue. The Saints allowed about 24 seconds to run off the clock after Austin recovered his personal fumble earlier than New Orleans lastly known as a timeout with 15 seconds left.

“You noticed some flash performs,” Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi mentioned. “I believed he made a few actually good performs, however then we made a few actually unhealthy choices. However, like I mentioned, we didn’t assist him a lot. I feel it was an general crew state of affairs. We dropped some passes. We dropped some balls on him, which may have helped us, and made the general product look lots higher and possibly make his efficiency look higher.”

With the Saints trailing 24-0 within the third quarter, Rattler bought New Orleans into scoring place once more earlier than Zayne Anderson picked off a first-and-10 move from the 22.

That was as shut as Rattler and the Saints bought to scoring.

“We bought outplayed,” Rattler mentioned. “We bought punched within the mouth.”

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