The New Orleans Saints have dropped to 5-9 on the season after a very exciting comeback attempt against the Washington Commanders. Even in a lost, a lot of highs were seen, leading to some good takeaways. Coming into the game, it was unclear if the Saints were going to play for the now or the future. The game made it clear that the Saints are playing for the now.
New Orleans has less than a 1% chance to make the playoffs, but Sundays game against the Commanders gave fans hope for the future. Let’s take a look at some takeaways from Sunday, good and bad, that should have fans excited moving forward.
Spencer Rattler learned from his past starts
Spencer Rattler entered Sunday’s game in the third quarter with the team trailing 17-0, and what followed was a clear show in growth and maturity at the quarterback position. Known for his arm talent, Rattler showcased a new layer to his game: poise under pressure. From the moment he stepped onto the field, the rookie quarterback displayed a refined decision-making process that had been lacking in his previous starts. Instead of forcing throws into tight windows or trying to make something out of nothing, he showed growth. Taking check downs, smart throwaways, and overall composure.
A good example came late in the game when, instead of forcing a risky pass into coverage, Rattler threw the ball away to set up a crucial Saints field goal, narrowing the deficit to a one-score game. It was a decision that spoke volumes about his evolution as a quarterback. While there were still moments where he pressed the issue, the overall growth was shown. Rattler’s performance wasn’t just about his physical tools it was about him growing as a student. On a day when the odds were stacked against him, he delivered a glimpse of what could be the next chapter in his career.
Saints defensive line dominated
The Saints defense has been getting a lot of criticism this season, but on Sunday, the D-line surely showed up. Tallying 8 sacks against the Rookie Of The Year shoo-in Jayden Daniels, they disrupted a very good and talented offense. Cam Jordan and Chase Young both had multiple sacks and were constantly finding themselves in the backfield. Surely they knew they had a lot to handle going up against Kliff Kingsbury's high powered offense, but they showed they were clearly up for the challenge.
Resilient comeback attempt
The Saints hard fought comeback, lead by Spencer Rattler’s newfound patience under center and Blake Grupe’s clutch field goals, set up a winner-take-all two-point conversion. With momentum clearly on their side, the Saints seemed poised to complete the rally, but missed opportunities earlier in the game ultimately cost them the game.. The narrow defeat, of course, led to what if questions, among them all: how different might the outcome have been if Rattler had started from the opening snap instead of just the second half?