Spencer Rattler Struggles Again, Saints Shut Out By Packers
New Orleans rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler faced significant challenges during his recent outing against the Green Bay Packers, culminated by a disheartening 34-0 defeat. For Rattler, this Monday night game became another missed opportunity to showcase his potential as he struggled under pressure, demonstrating how injuries to key players have hindered his performance on the field.
The matchup at Lambeau Field highlighted the disparity between expectation and reality for the rookie from South Carolina. Just one week prior, Rattler had shown promise leading the Saints against the Washington Commanders, orchestrated four consecutive scoring drives even though they narrowly lost, 20-19. This performance had fans hopeful; unfortunately, the reality against the Packers was starkly different.
Rattler completed 15 of 30 passes for just 153 yards, throwing one interception and pledging to make two costly turnovers, including losing the ball to the Packers' defense. While he also rushed for 28 yards on five carries, he could not find the end zone. The shutout loss marked the Saints' first since November 2022, heightening the sense of urgency around the team's performance as they fell to 5-10 for the season.
Rattler's performance was compounded by the absence of several key Saints players, with five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara sidelined due to injury, along with wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling. New Orleans was deploying receivers such as Kevin Austin and Mason Tipton, trying to establish offensive momentum, but the lack of established talent was particularly apparent against a Green Bay team missing four starters on defense.
Despite the challenges, Rattler had the chance to lead the Saints on drives, including getting inside the Green Bay 30-yard line late in the second quarter. Unfortunately, he was sacked by Keisean Nixon, leading to a fumble recovered by Rashan Gary. The Saints struggled to convert early drives and failed to score, marking their second consecutive game without a first-half point, something not seen since 1997.
The loss extended the Saints' difficulty this season, prompting head coach Darren Rizzi to acknowledge the tough road ahead for the rookie quarterback without adequate support. Rattler himself reflected on the challenging circumstances surrounding this game, stating, "We had a lot of missing pieces and that's just fact." Even with these challenges, the Saints remain focused on assessing Rattler as they navigate through the remainder of the season.
The turnover issue has been significant for Rattler throughout the season, with this game marking his sixth turnover over five games. Yet, he managed to flash occasional brilliance—such as during a third-and-17 completion to Dante Pettis, underlining the frustration from fans and team alike as his struggles seemed inconsistent with his flashes of potential. "It's like we have to gauge whether he can throw the ball to receivers when they can’t get open," noted one coaching source.
Next up for Rattler and the Saints is facing the Raiders, which may present another opportunity for evaluation, as the team hopes to see growth from the rookie quarterback behind the dwindling offensive line and missing playmakers. With head coach Rizzi indicating plans to let Rattler continue getting valuable reps, all eyes will be on whether he can find any rhythm against less formidable opponents.
If nothing else, the straightforward truth remains: evaluating Rattler’s potential as the future large-scale backup quarterback—and possibly much more—becomes increasingly challenging without his primary weapons and proper protection, especially against defenses eager to capitalize on such vulnerabilities. With the pressure on and playoff hopes diminished, the path forward hinges on Rattler’s ability to juggle these challenges as the Saints stick to their goal of finding the team’s next long-term leader under center.
