NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Spencer Rattler hit Dante Pettis for a 20-yard touchdown and ran in a 2-point conversion with 2:18 to play to deliver the Saints a tie against the Jaguars, 17-17.
“Our locker room is happy,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “Our guys made some big-time plays down the stretch.”
Chief among them was Rattler, who rebounded from a costly interception with 5:08 to play and the Saints threatening at the Jaguars’ 13-yard-line.
In a backup role, Rattler completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards. He shrugged off the late interception before orchestrating the game-tying drive -- nine plays, 82 yards -- on the Saints’ next possession.
While the Saints’ quarterback competition remains murky, Rattler’s last-series composure could have moved him ahead. Moore was not ready to name a starting QB for next Saturday’s preseason finale against Denver.
“We’ll see how everything progresses leading into this week,” Moore said. “These guys are competing and giving us everything we ask. This is an evaluation phase for these guys, as it is for every other position on the team. It’s an evaluation and you take it as you need to go.”
Rookie Tyler Shough started at quarterback for the Saints. He completed 9 of 12 passes for 66 yards. His four drives led to one field goal.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) reacts after being tackled Sunday (Aug. 17) by the...
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) reacts after being tackled Sunday (Aug. 17) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)(Tyler Kaufman | AP)
The Jaguars got on the board first in the Caesars Superdome.
Trevor Lawrence connected with Parker Washington for a 7-yard touchdown, giving Jacksonville the early advantage, 7-0.
Jacksonville would score another touchdown in the second quarter, courtesy of a Bhayshul Tuten 3-yard touchdown run.
Shough orchestrated the Saints first points of the afternoon and it started with a beautiful connection to Treyton Welch. But the Saints would settle for a field goal after a Chris Olave dropped pass on third down. Shough completed 5 of 6 passes on the series for 51 yards.
Rattler ignited some life into the Saints’ offensive attack when he connected with Mason Tipton on a 45-yard pass in the third quarter.
Saints receiver Mason Tipton pulls in a 45-yard pass from quarterback Spencer Rattler in the...
Saints receiver Mason Tipton pulls in a 45-yard pass from quarterback Spencer Rattler in the third quarter Sunday (Aug. 17) against Jacksonville.(Rob Krieger, WVUE-Fox 8)
The Saints’ final preseason game is at home next Saturday (Aug. 23), a noon kickoff (pregame 11:30 a.m.) against former New Orleans coach Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos. The game will be televised on Fox 8 and Louisiana’s Gray TV affiliates.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story?Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8YouTube channel.
Copyright 2025 WVUE. All rights reserved.