Saints vs Titans preseason Week 3: 4 storylines fans must monitor

It seems like the New Orleans Saints were just returning for training camp, but they are already preparing for their final preseason game of the year. On Sunday, New Orleans will host the Tennessee Titans for its third and final preseason game. It’s the first home game of the year for the Saints, and it’ll be the team’s most important preseason game.

With this being the final preseason game, it’s the Saints’ last official dress rehearsal. The next time they’ll be all suited up for a game will be in Week 1. When that happens, the roster will be significantly smaller. On Tuesday, two days after the game, all teams have to trim their rosters down to just 53 players.

Sunday will be the final opportunity for these roster bubble players to impress, and the last chance against a different opponent for the team as a whole to work through any struggles. With all of that in mind, here are four storylines to watch for.

4. Will Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler have a competition-deciding performance?

The backup quarterback competition was one of the most anticipated position battles entering training camp. Second-year quarterback Jake Haener and rookie QB Spencer Rattler have battled all throughout camp to see who would be Derek Carr’s primary backup.

With the final preseason game on Sunday, the two are still in stride with each other. Both have had solid camps, and they both looked good in the first preseason game. However, in the second preseason game, they both struggled. Fans will watch to see if one of them will create some separation in game three.

3. Will Trevor Penning continue to trend in the right direction?

Trevor Penning is always going to be a storyline. As the Saints enter the regular season, most fans will likely say they are most concerned about Penning starting at right tackle. After a horrific debut in the first week of the preseason, the concern for Penning was at an all-time high.

Fortunately, he bounced back in Week 2 and had a solid performance. He was good in the run, and decent in pass protection. He still has a ways to go but it was promising improvement. Now the question is can he build off that performance or will he regress.

2. Can Rico Payton keep up his stellar preseason performance?

The breakout New Orleans player of the preseason is undoubtedly Rico Payton. The undrafted rookie cornerback has quickly established himself as a corner that won’t allow completions. Despite several targets in the first two games, Payton has used those as opportunities to make a name for himself, breaking up pass after pass.

Will that continue in Week 3 of the preseason? Based on what he has already done, he should be a lock for the roster. Unfortunately, nothing is guaranteed in this league, so you have to deliver every time you’re on the field.

Payton has been dealing with a shoulder injury in practice this week, so his availability is currently unknown. If his number is called, he has to play to the standard he has established for himself.

1. Will the Saints starting offense build on what they did against the 49ers?

It took New Orleans a while, but the starting offense finally put together a drive to be proud of this preseason. In the second preseason game, on the team’s third drive against the San Francisco 49ers, the starting offense had a 16-play, 95-yard touchdown drive that lasted over eight minutes.

It was promising to see the unit move the ball down the field and score, but it was also just one drive. On Sunday, the starting offense will have the opportunity to show they actually found something, and build on the success of the drive a week ago.

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