The New Orleans Saints will play their starters in the final preseason game, and when they step on the field, they'll be led by Spencer Rattler, not Tyler Shough. Kellen Moore may try to downplay this decision, but it says a lot.
The battle between Rattler and Shough is entering the final stretch. The decision will be made after this preseason game, emphasis on after. Moore almost chuckled when making it clear this is not indicative of who will be the Week 1 starter.
Moore is right to take a strong stance against this being a declaration or crowning of a starting quarterback. Fans are starving to know who the starter will be and will make conclusions with every new, small piece of information. Fans wouldn't be grasping at straws here, however.
Spencer Rattler is still holding on to his lead over rookie Tyler Shough
Rattler starting this game may not mean everything, but it does mean something. Rattler starting is a sign he's still ahead in the race. If you would have predicted this is where we'd be just a week ago, many would have questioned you.
Shough won the first battle. Rattler won the second battle. There's a strong possibility that whoever wins the third battle will win the war, especially if the margin is wide.
Rattler has been in the lead through most of this battle, and taking the initial snaps in the finale sends a statement that Shough hasn't done enough to pass him yet. That could change after the game, but going into it, it appears Shough is going to have to snatch it away from Rattler.
In the first two preseason games, only one quarterback has played with the starting unit. There's a chance Rattler and Shough both play with the starting unit. Moore said the quarterbacks will rotate, but he isn't sure how that rotation will line up with the other starters.
If the starters see a quarter and there's no quarterback rotation, this decision will speak even louder. The race is still up for grabs by either guy, but Rattler's fingertips seem a little closer to the title after Thursday's announcement.