The good news for the New Orleans Saints is they rallied in Sunday’s preseason game with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 17-17 tie.
The bad news is the race for the starting quarterback job looks to still be tied, too.
Two preseason games in, and it’s still too close for Kellen Moore to call.
Rookie Tyler Shough won Round 1 last week against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Spencer Rattler, in his second season, fought back to win Round 2 against the Jags.
“All the QBs aren’t making this easy,” Moore said. “They are all doing a really good job and all having their days and taking advantage of opportunities.”
Round 3, Saturday’s preseason finale against the Denver Broncos, could decide it all.
Ideally, Shough or Rattler would have separated themselves by now and been named the starter.
Time is ticking.
NFL games are won by quarterback play.
Unfortunately, we are three weeks before the Sept. 7 regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and the Saints still haven’t quite figured out who theirs will be.
The moment right after the game is way too soon for Moore to assess Sunday’s QB play. He’ll have a better idea in the next few days as he reviews the tape of a game that left you probably taking the under on the 4½ wins the Vegas oddsmakers have set for this season.
“Film will be an important aspect of this thing,” Moore said. “We’ll see how everything progresses leading into this week.”
Maybe Moore will see enough on film to name a Week 1 starter before Sean Payton brings his Broncos to town. I'd give a slight edge to Rattler right now, but that's more of a "What have you done for me lately?" decision based on Sunday's late drive.
The Saints didn’t find the end zone Sunday until 21 seconds remained in the game, when Rattler capped off an 82-yard drive with a 20-yard pass to Dante Pettis. It was just the Saints' second touchdown in their two tune-up games.
Each quarterback had his one big highlight Sunday.
Shough threw a first-half strike to Treyton Welch, who made a SportsCenter Top 10-caliber grab.
Rattler connected with Mason Tipton for a 45-yard reception.
Nether quarterback was consistent enough to drive the final nail in the coffin of this ongoing quarterback battle, though.
If you had to declare a winner for Sunday, it would be Rattler, despite a fourth-quarter interception that looked just as bad as the one Shough threw the week before.
But oftentimes, which will be the case as Moore looks at the film this week, you have to look beyond the completions and interceptions you see on the stat sheet.
For example, Tipton — the targeted receiver on the interception — took all of the blame on that play.
“There is no way the DB is supposed to make that play,” Tipton said. “I’ve got to run through that slant so he can’t even make that play. The bottom line is, he beat me to the ball and that can’t happen.”
Rattler responded and marched the Saints down the field for a score. He then used his legs to tie it when he ran in for the two-point conversion.
“That was a big moment and opportunity for him to have that great drive going down the field,” Moore said. “To throw that interception and have to respond, he responded really well.”
Last week in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, it was Shough responding from an interception and leading a touchdown drive.
Regardless of who wins the job, you should expect both quarterbacks to go through their growing pains this season, especially with the way the offensive line has looked in the preseason.
Offensive line play, which looked on paper like it was going to be a team strength, has been underwhelming thus far.
Erik McCoy, the glue that holds the O-line together, hasn’t played in either preseason game as Moore sits him out. Trevor Penning is nursing a toe injury. Also, Alvin Kamara — who makes everything easier for everybody — has yet to play in the preseason.
Shough completed 9 of 12 passes for 66 yards Sunday. His numbers would have been better if not for a dropped pass by Chris Olave that would have been a 24-yard gain to extend a drive.
Rattler, meanwhile, completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards.
Moore, much like the Saints’ fan base, wishes this race would have been decided by now.
“Sooner is always better,” Moore said. “These guys are competing, and they are giving everything that we can ask. We will continue to evaluate.”
Rattler finished Sunday’s game strong.
Now if he or Shough would just have a strong finish to this quarterback competition.