NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The Saints ended their preseason slate with a 28-19 loss to their former coach Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos. New Orleans finished the preseason with a 0-2-1 record.
Spencer Rattler started the game at quarterback for the Saints, playing 15 snaps on three drives, two of which ended in Blake Grupe field goals. Rattler completed 5 of 8 passes for 43 yards.
Rookie Tyler Shough came in after Rattler, running with the second-teamers. Shough completed 12 of 20 passes for 120 yards and provided the Saints’ only touchdown with a 10-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
Saints coach Kellen Moore gave no indication that either quarterback significantly pulled ahead in the race to claim QB1 status when the season opens two weeks from Sunday.
“We’ll continue that evaluation,” Moore said.
NFL rosters must be trimmed to 53 players by Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m.
The Broncos scored the first touchdown of the afternoon, as second-year quarterback Bo Nix connected with Courtland Sutton for a 19-yard touchdown. That gave the Broncos a 10-6 lead in the second quarter.
Saints owner Gayle Benson is greeted by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton before the...
Saints owner Gayle Benson is greeted by Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton before the teams' preseason game Saturday (Aug. 23) at Caesars Superdome. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)(Gerald Herbert | AP)
The Broncos capitalized on a Shough fumble, paying off with an Audric Estime 5-yard touchdown. That extended the Denver advantage over the Saints, 22-9.
The Saints went with most of their projected starters on offense to start the contest. Running back Alvin Kamara played one snap, and center Erik McCoy saw his first action of the preseason.
Grupe connected on three field goals in the first half. He hit from 56, 49, and 48 yards out.
The Saints open the regular season at home on Sept. 7, hosting the Arizona Cardinals at noon in Caesars Superdome.
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