The New Orleans Saints fell 26-21 to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 in a game full of emotions. While Spencer Rattler’s struggle were glaring in the first half of the game, as the day went on he settled into a rhythm and ended up having a career day, giving New Orleans fans hope not only hope in the moment, but for the season moving forward.
A Disappointing Start
On the Saints’ first drive, Rattler’s first pass was a 39-yard bomb to Rashid Shaheed down the left sideline. Shaheed hauled the ball in with one hand while being held by Niners DB Renardo Green.
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Although the drive started well, it did not end so well. After the offense stalled in Niners territory, Blake Grupe came on to kick a 40-yard field goal. He missed it. That would be his second missed field goal in two weeks.
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A Bounce Back
Rattler and the Saints bounced back a few possessions later, towards the end of the first half. Rattler had an impressive rush on third-and-6 at the Niners 31-yard line with about 2:35 left on the game clock. He avoided a sack while trying to escape the pocket, collided with two Niners defenders about three yards away from the sticks, and escaped their grip to get a total gain of 10 yards.
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This play was the first glimpse at the fight Rattler had in him this game.
A few plays later, on another third-and-6, Rattler launched an improbable throw off his back foot to TE Juwan Johnson for an outstanding 18-yard touchdown.
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This was the definitive turning point in the game for the offense.
Going into halftime, the Saints trailed 16-7 after a beautiful touchdown drive led by Niners QB Mac Jones.
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Second Half Hope
On the Niners’ opening drive of the second half, Chris Rumph forced a strip sack on Jones, and the Saints recovered the ball.
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Once again with an opportunity in his hand, Rattler drove the Saints to the Niners 22-yard line, where he faced a crucial fourth-and-1. He converted it after an impressive rush to the left side of the field.
Rattler and Alvin Kamara combined to lead the Saints down into the red zone, where Spencer Rattler found Shaheed for a three-yard touchdown on a shifty route by Shaheed.
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The Saints trailed only 16-14 after a Grupe extra point. The second score marked Rattler’s first NFL game with multiple touchdown passes.
At the end of the third quarter, the Saints trailed 19-14 after forcing the Niners into a field goal.
After a few failed drives, a controversial Kamara “fumble” that Niners LB Fred Warner recovered, and a 42-yard touchdown to Jauan Jennings, the Saints finally marched back down the field halfway through the fourth quarter. On a first-and-goal at the three-yard line, Rattler threw a perfect slant to WR Devaughn Vele for Rattler’s third passing touchdown of the day. The touchdown was also the first catch for Vele and first touchdown as a Saint.
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After a Grupe extra point, the score would stay 26-21 for the remainder of the game. The Saints failed to capitalize on their final drive of the game. Spencer Rattler was strip-sacked on fourth-and-2, and Cesar Ruiz landed on the ball for the Niners forced turnover.
A Tough Way to Lose
While certainly a disappointing loss for the New Orleans Saints, there are plenty of positives to be taken out of it.
The biggest? Spencer Rattler easily had his best game of his career, completing 73.5% of his passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He finished the game with a 118.0 rating. He showed exactly why he was named the starting QB, and instilled hope in this franchise for the first time in a long time. This is how good Rattler can be.
He has fight in him, and he showed that with his tough running and beautiful passes. If the Saints could just hold off on the mistakes, Rattler proved he can carry this team to wins.
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