NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Kellen Moore era is off to a bumpy start in New Orleans. The Saints hit another pothole Sunday (Sept. 14), losing at home to a shorthanded San Francisco 49ers team, 26-21.
The nail in the coffin was a 42-yard touchdown strike from Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings with 12:18 left in the fourth quarter. The clutch play from San Francisco’s backup quarterback came on a third-and-11 play for San Francisco.
“Really good battle right to the end, again,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “It comes down to doing more of what winning football teams do. We have to play better faster and learn from these things and go from there. We have to play cleaner football in all three phases (offense, defense and special teams).”
Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 25 of 34 passes for 206 yards and threw his first three touchdown passes of the season, but remains winless after eight NFL starts.
Starting in place of an injured Brock Purdy, Jones registered two touchdown passes in the first half. He connected with Luke Farrell on a 11-yard touchdown, and hit Christian McCaffrey for a 7-yard touchdown.
Jones also threw three touchdown passes on the day. Neither quarterback was intercepted.
The Niners, also playing without injured Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, leaned on running back Christian McCaffrey, who had 55 rushing yards and 52 receiving yards.
Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauls in an 18-yard scoring pass from Spencer Rattler in the...
Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauls in an 18-yard scoring pass from Spencer Rattler in the second quarter Sunday (Sept. 14) against San Francisco.(Rob Krieger, WVUE-Fox 8)
Alvin Kamara gave New Orleans 121 yards from scrimmage -- 100 on the ground and 21 on six receptions -- but also had a critical fumble late in the third quarter. Kamara’s turnover ended a drive that had reached the San Francisco 36-yard line with the Saints trailing 19-14.
“He kind of controlled it with his hand and then he lost it, so there was a fumble,” Moore said of the reception turnover that referees reviewed on instant replay.
The Saints’ only score of the first two frames was an 18-yard TD pass from Rattler to tight end Juwan Johnson. Blake Grupe failed to connect on a 40-yard field goal in the first quarter.
The Niners took a 16-7 lead into halftime.
San Francisco tight end Luke Ferrell takes an 11-yard pass from Mac Jones into the end zone...
San Francisco tight end Luke Ferrell takes an 11-yard pass from Mac Jones into the end zone Sunday (Sept. 14), giving the 49ers a 6-0 first-quarter lead over the Saints.(Rob Krieger, WVUE-Fox 8)
The Saints have played their first two games without defensive end Chase Young, their top pash rusher who has been sidelined by a calf injury. Without him, the Saints managed just three sacks of Jones for 12 yards. The former Alabama and New England Patriots quarterback completed 26 of 39 passes for 279 yards.
“You let any of the quarterbacks in this league sit there comfortable for too long, they’re going to deliver something downfield,” Moore said. “We have to find a way to get to him sooner.”
The Saints are on the road next Sunday, facing the Seahawks in a 3:05 p.m. (CT) game in Seattle.
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